Veteran Broadcaster Charles Omuga Kabisae Dies After Long Illness

Veteran radio broadcaster Charles Omuga Kabisae has died.

The renowned radio personality passed away on Monday, August 11, after a long illness. His body was taken to a Nairobi morgue for preservation as the family begins funeral arrangements.

Omuga, best remembered for reading obituaries and condolence messages — famously known as matangazo maalum na ya vifo — rose to prominence in the 1990s.

His broadcasting journey began at the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation’s (KBC) Dholuo Service in Kisumu. He later moved to KBC’s Kiswahili Service after a vacancy opened when one of the presenters left, giving him the opportunity to apply.

At KBC Kiswahili Service, Omuga’s voice reached an even wider audience, cementing his place as a household name alongside legendary broadcasters such as Leonard Mambo Mbotela.

In a past interview, Omuga recalled his first day on air, when he was tasked with announcing the death of an individual. Moments later, the family of the person arrived at the studio to inform him the individual was still alive. He quickly went back on air to retract the announcement and clarify the error.

Omuga attended Muslim Secondary School before enrolling at the Kenya Institute of Mass Communication (KIMC) in the late 1970s and early 1980s, where he honed his broadcasting skills.

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