Remembering Mbotela: A tribute to legendary radio broadcaster and a friend

Our friendship would continue thereafter after leaving the national broadcaster, each one of us pursuing different goals.

Once in a while, apart from picking him up at his home for an outing, our communication via mobile telephony would be intermittent.

Out of spontaneity, and during a visit to another broadcasting legend, Kibyego Arap Kangogo, sometime after the Covid-19 pandemic, I was accompanied by renowned sound engineer Benjamin Kiplangat, who had brought along a video camera. Together, we quickly put a production and christened it Gumzo Mtaani.

Later, the work we build evolved into a production that would spotlight the legendary broadcaster, from both the pre-independence and post-independence eras, spanning to the ‘70s and ‘80s. 

It was on this premise that I had the privilege of hosting Mbotela, the legendary broadcaster, towards the end of last year. Even though audiences had been familiar with him through their radios for over 50 years, I wanted them to see another side of him, to truly get to know the man behind the voice. The interview centred around Mbotela’s memoir, Je Huu ni Ungwana?

Roots and origin

As I write this tribute, a 30-minute, three-part program featuring Mbotela’s voice is awaiting editing, having already been scripted. The legendary broadcaster has been calling, eager to know when he will preview the production. In short, he has been anxiously awaiting it. Now, sadly, he will never see the final product.

It was during his appearance on the Gumzo Mtaani production that Mbotela narrated his roots and origin, which, as it turns out, are not Kenyan.

The Mbotela family’s history dates back to 1867 when Mbotela Senior was forcefully taken from Nyasaland (now Malawi) and later rescued by the Church Missionary Society. They settled in Freetown, Mombasa, where Mbotela Senior worked as a porter and gun carrier for missionaries travelling to Uganda. Tragically, during his second mission to Uganda, Mbotela Senior died at the Kedong Valley after an encounter with Maasai morans on their return journey to Mombasa.

That was a fateful end for Mbotela Senior, who had earlier lost his CMS boss, Bishop James Hannington, through a brutal murder by Kabaka Muwanga’s luminaries.

Mbotela Senior, who passed away under 30, left behind his wife Halima from Zanzibar and their young son, Juma Mbotela. Halima would later become a great-grandmother to Leonard Mambo. After Mbotela Senior’s death, Juma was cared for by Bishop Harrisson of Freretown, who provided him with basic education. Juma was later employed in the bishop’s kitchen, a job known as “boy” during colonial times, but eventually earned a promotion to cook.

In one of his final interviews, the legendary broadcaster shared a personal story: “Let me tell you, Daudi,” he said, laughing heartily. “My grandfather, Juma Mbotela, was one of the first Africans to travel to England in 1905.” Coincidentally, David Gakure, son of Agikuyu Paramount Chief Karuri wa Gakure, also travelled to the UK in the same year for further studies. Karuri had collaborated with the British, allowing the Uganda Railway to pass through Kikuyu land.

During our candid interview, I asked Mbotela if his grandfather Juma had married. With a laugh, he responded, “Oh yes, to Grace Esther, a white woman.” I pointed out that most Freetown residents lacked African names due to the influence of white missionaries. Juma, along with his wife Grace, had a large family, blessed with eight sons and two daughters. “My father, James was the first born in that family,” Mbotela said during our Gumzo Mtaani interview.

Academician par excellence

“He was nicknamed mzungu mweusi. He was an academician par excellence having taught the likes of the 2nd President of Kenya Daniel arap Moi, Dr Julius Gikonyo Kiano, Geoffrey Kareithi, Dr Habel Nyamu, Jeremiah Kiereini, Peter Gathathi, Duncan Ndegwa, and Dr Josphat Karanja amongst others.”

James, was one of the first students of Alliance High School. He attended class with Eliud Mathu, James Muigai, Njindo Matiba father to Kenneth Matiba among others.

I was to learn through our Gumzo interview that Mbotela was a man whose roots were nestled in a legendary family.

“And don’t forget Daudi, Tom Mbotela, a freedom fighter and a KAU honcho, was my uncle too,” Mbotela said.

The veteran broadcaster still remembered how his uncle was killed at Kaloleni estate in the early 50’s, as he was going back home at night from a town hall party courtesy of Governor Evelyn Baring. Mbotela shed tears as he reflected about the gruesome murder. I had to console him, “Pole, pole mzee” as I too shed a tear because of the sad story of the murder.”

“Imagine Daudi, this gruesome murder was happening when both my grandparents had come to visit my uncle at Kaloleni. The first to see the murdered person were my two cousins, as they headed to school that early morning”.

The story doing rounds at their school was that a male adult had been killed by Mau Mau, only for them to return home and learn that the man was their father.

During our discussion, I asked Mbotela if the name “Mambo” had origins from his Nyasaland (now Malawi) ancestors. “No, Daudi,” he responded. “I was a very playful and inquisitive kid. My grandfather Juma had a friend who was talkative and comical, so he nicknamed me Mambo. The name stuck, and from then on, my family and everyone else called me Mambo Mbotela.”

Broadcasting career

Curious, I then asked about his broadcasting career. “How did Mbotela become a legend in broadcasting?”

“It just happened Daudi, “I loved “Sauti ya Kenya – VOK. I was an ardent salaams contributor in all the salaams programs in “Idhaa ya Kiswahili” while young in the late 50s,” said Mbotela.

“Every day, the likes of Simeon Ndesanjo, Steven Kikumu, Hassan Mazoa et al, would broadcast my name in all Salaams programs. So one day, in the early ‘60s, an outside broadcast crew under the leadership of Ndesanjo came in Nakuru, where, I was living and working for a Swahili newspaper, Baraza”.

“To cut a long story short, I was in front so I could send my salaams live on air. When I mentioned my name, Ndesanjo recognized it. He then asked me to pretend I was a broadcaster as I sent my salaams. I did it perfectly.”

“He asked for my phone number, and by the following Monday, he called me. I went and was hired instantly, and the rest, as they say, is history.”

“And here I’m retired but still doing my most favourite program, “Je huu ni ungwana?, almost 60 years down the line.” Mbotela chuckles happily. I am happy for him. 

How did Mbotela birth “Je huu ni ungwana?” “This is interesting Daudi, we were four persons, after our shift at VOK. Elizabeth Akinyi, a Mr Munyao, who was our fundi wa mitambo, another person and I - yours truly Leonard Mambo Mbotela, were walking casually, towards Government Road then, latter named Moi Avenue.

Munyao insists that he wants to take us for lunch. First, we thought he would take us to those sheli sheli restaurants, that do mbuzi/ng’ombe and tandoori…. but indicated that our hotel of call will be Panafric hotel. Excited, we concurred!” said Mbotela. “I remember arriving and seeing dignitaries like Charles Njonjo and Dr Julius Kiano seated nearby,” Mbotela recalled. “To get attention, Munyao began banging the table and shouting in Kiswahili, ‘Kwani hapa hakuna waiters?’ He repeated it several times.”

Njonjo and his group were stunned, watching the scene unfold. After being served, Munyao promptly paid the bill, and from that moment, the idea for the iconic program “Je huu ni ungwana?” was born. Nearly 60 years later, Mbotela said, “The show wasn’t meant to embarrass anyone; it aimed to educate.”

RIP, Mbotela. We loved you, but the Almighty loved you more