Speaker Wetangula pens emotional tribute to Mambo Mbotela

National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula has penned an emotional tribute to veteran journalist Leonard Mambo Mbotela who passed away today, Friday, February 7, 2025.

In his message, Wetangula said that Mbotela’s mastery of Swahili, eloquence, and ability to capture the essence of our culture made him a giant in the industry.

 He also went down memory lane to the day Mambo Mbotela was forced to announce the 1982 attempted Coup.

“I still shudder at the thought of him being forced to announce the 1982 attempted coup on live radio, his courage, professionalism, and resilience in that moment proved his unwavering dedication to journalism,” Wetangula said.

He added that Mbotela was not just a broadcaster but a historian, mentor, and custodian of Kenya’s rich linguistic and cultural heritage.

Here is Wetangula’s full Eulogy to Mambo Mbotela

I never imagined a day when Leonard Mambo Mbotela’s voice would fade into silence. For decades, his deep, commanding tone filled our airwaves, shaping conversations, instilling values, and chronicling Kenya’s journey through history.

Today, as I reflect on his passing, I feel the weight of this loss not just for the media fraternity but for the entire nation.

Growing up, Mbotela’s show, Je, Huu Ni Ungwana? was more than just a radio program it was a moment of reflection, a lesson in morality, and a guiding force for a society that needed constant reminders of dignity and decency.

His mastery of Swahili, his eloquence, and his ability to capture the essence of our culture made him a giant in the industry.

I remember hearing stories of how he started his journey in the 1960s at the Voice of Kenya (now KBC). His voice became the soundtrack of our national story, from moments of celebration to times of uncertainty.

I still shudder at the thought of him being forced to announce the 1982 attempted coup on live radio, his courage, professionalism, and resilience in that moment proved his unwavering dedication to journalism.

Mbotela was not just a broadcaster; he was a historian, a mentor, and a custodian of Kenya’s rich linguistic and cultural heritage. His influence extended beyond the studio, he shaped the media landscape and set standards for those who came after him.

As I mourn his passing, I stand in solidarity with the journalists, broadcasters, and media practitioners who carry his legacy forward. The mic may be off, but his voice will forever echo in our hearts, in the history of Kenyan journalism, and in the lessons he left us.

Rest well, Mzee Leonard Mambo Mbotela.

Kenya salutes you!