Kenyans were on the morning of February 5th, 2025, hit by the ad news of the passing on of legendary broadcaster Leonard Mambo Mbotela. The renowned broadcaster died at the age of 84 years after a stunning career which lasted for bovver fifty years earning him awards, accolades and millions of followers who liked and got inspired by his career.
After the death was confirmed by his family, Kenyans frm all works of life took to various platforms to pay last tributes and wish the soul of Leonard Mambo Mbotela rest in peace.
Led by National Assembly, Moses Wetangula who described Mbotela’s programs as lesson in morality and a guiding force for a society that needed constant reminders of dignity and decency.
“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,” Wetangula mourned.
Mbotela’s most, memorable moment was during the 1982 coup when some officers from the Kenya Air Force storm Mbotela’s house in Ngara where they captured him and led him to Voice of Kenya (VOK) studios where he was forced to announce that Moi’s government had been overthrown.
He was married to Alice Mwikali who together had three children: Aida Mbotela, Jimmy Mbotela and George Mbotela.
