This man Mbotela: Stared at the barrel of a gun but lived to see five presidents take office
There is nothing as good as freedom. And there is nothing as bad as being colonized,” these were the words of Leonard Mambo Mbotela, a veteran journalist and presenter, who, in the last five decades, saw it all before and after independence.
The 84-year-old was forced into a controversial military coup at gunpoint in 1982 when the late President Daniel Moi was in power.
The humble, jovial, and soft-spoken but firm father of three has entertained, broken news, and informed that he needs no introduction in most places in the country since many identify his voice the moment he speaks.
On Feb 7, 2025, his family announced that the veteran radio broadcaster had hung the boot.
Mbotela passed on aged 84 after a short illness.
Best known for his signature program “Je, Huu Ni Ungwana?” on Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) Radio Taifa and TV, Mbotela retired from the state broadcaster in 2022.
The late Mbotela witnessed the transformation of Kenya from a colony of the British Empire, where Kenyans were slaves of the colonial masters, into an independent republic.
It was during this era that Kenyans were treated as subjects of Britain; racism was rampant, and their human rights were violated since there was no law to protect them.
“When Kenyans attained self-rule on June 1, 1963, the day we celebrate Madaraka Day, the Duke of Edinburg, the late Prince Philip, was the one who presented the instruments of power to Mzee Jomo Kenyatta on behalf of Queen Elizabeth the Second, symbolising that Kenya was free from British colonization,” Mbotela said, adding, “up until now, Kenya has been a free state. No one will take that away from us.”
Mbotela worked at The East African Standard (currently Standard Group), Voice of Kenya (VoK), Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC), and the Presidential Press Unit.
He attended the Madaraka Day ceremony in 1963 at Uhuru Gardens, Langata, together with his father, James Mbotela, to witness Kenya’s glory moment.
He was 23 then and trying to get a foothold in life.
“We have made great strides development-wise since we gained independence on December 12, 1963. You can’t compare life back then and now,” Mbotela said in a previous interview.
Leonard witnessed all five Kenyan presidents ascend to power and tells of how life has transformed through his eyes.
He added that though the country still faces numerous challenges, the gains are many, and he was confident that soon things will be much better for Kenyans.
“The development of a country largely depends on the president at that particular time. ‘Ikiwa ni Rais amelala kama maziwa lala, hatuwezi kuwa na maendeleo yoyote’. “You cannot expect development from a sleeping president,” he said, adding, “President Jomo Kenyatta loved development. In his addresses, he always castigated the colonialists who thought Kenya would not establish itself. He encouraged citizens to work hard to develop our country.”
Mbotela then explained that when Jomo Kenyatta died on August 22, 1978, the late Moi, then his vice president, succeeded him and vowed to ‘kufuata nyayo”-follow in the footsteps of his predecessor.
The first time I got scared about Leonard Mambo Mbotela was on August 1, 1982 an I was a second year student at Nairobi University. That was the day of the coup attempt against dictator Moi.
I was the Secretary General of Students Organization of Nairobi University (SONU) and at night me and my friends got tired of waiting for the coup to happen.
It was four of us and that was Rateng Oginga Ogego, David Murathe and the late Prof. Muga Kolale. We had wind that the coup was going to happen that night. Don’t ask me where the wind came from.
So at around 2 . A.M on August 1, 1982 we were frustrated that the coup had not happened yet and we left the campus residence to go downtown and see what was happening.
Big mistake because a few hours later there were gunshots everywhere and we knew the action was on. Then we try to get back to campus and the streets were a mess with soldiers.
We were using David Murathe’s car and it was a land rover which looked like an army vehicle so we just dumped it in a street corner and run back to campus residence through the tunnel that comes from main campus. It was a nightmare.
In the main campus tunnel if there is fire, you are dead because there is nowhere you can go. We made it and got out of the tunnel.
We ran back and went to Rateng’s room in Hall 3 and it was like a studio. Rateng had his own TV system and we were able to listen to the coup operations at Kenya Broadcasting Station live.
And KBC is a few hundreds yards from Hall 3 and we could look over the Rugby Football Field right to KBC and see all the operations as it was being bombed and counter bombed.
Leonard Mambo Mbotela was live on KBC all that time. Sometimes the coup soldiers had him interviewing them.
Then as students we went downtown to the Police Headquarters and we saw a whole army there getting ready to retake the country for Moi.
We ran back and I meet the chairman of SONU Titus Adungosi talking to students at 680 Hotel front yard and telling them not to break into shops. We tell the chairman that hell is about to break loose and we have to tell all the students to go to the university.
Then indeed hell broke loose as everybody was being shot at and we as students just run out of campus and left our books and certificates there. It was very hard.
When Raila Odinga was arrested after the 1982 failed coup.
“Moi led us well in education. He built schools and universities. He built several girls’ schools. He improved agriculture and several other sectors,” said Mbotela.
He added that Moi loved his country so much and wanted to see it prosper economically.
“Mwai Kibaki took over from Moi. He led us well and will be largely remembered for the construction of roads and for ensuring that Kenya’s economy was good. Nobody complained,” he said.
He said that Kenya’s previous president, Uhuru Kenyatta, also led the country well, contributing heavily to road infrastructure development. “Politically, you cannot be 100 per cent blameless, however, well you have performed; those who don’t like you will always blame you,” Mbotela told The Standard.
Mbotela started his career at the East African Standard, where he worked as a linotype machine operator for a year before he joined the VoK.
“I went to see the head of Swahili programs, who by then was called Simeon Desanjo, and Stephen Kikumu, who was the head of radio news. I did a voice test and was told to report to work the following day,” he explains, adding, “I couldn’t believe it. I cried tears of joy. That is how I joined VoK on November 22, 1964. “
He added that, though the salary wasn’t so good, he was happy since he had gotten something he loved so much.
“Without praising myself, I presented in such a way that I was even better than those I found at VoK,” he said.
In 1967, he was taken to BBC London for further training and got several promotions.
“I retired when I was a controller of radio programs in 1997. From there, I went to the Presidential Press Unit,” he said.
Mbotela said one of his most memorable moments was when Mzee Jomo Kenyatta died in Msambweni, Kwale district.
“I was chosen by the VoK CEO, the late James Kangwana, and told to go and provide live coverage from State House,” he said, adding, “I also commentated during Mzee’s state funeral. His son, Uhuru Kenyatta, commended me, saying, “You commentated so well during my father’s funeral. We have remained friends to date.”
He said that under Jomo Kenyatta, you wouldn’t hold political protests. He didn’t want to hear anyone meddling with the self-rule that Kenya had attained.
“Kenyatta could even point at a minister who had erred, using his walking stick to the extent of throwing it at them. I witnessed such an incident, but it was good luck that it did not hit the minister. He ducked it,” Mbotela said.
According to Mbotela, back in the day, there was no such thing as freedom of the press. The media was monitored. Stories would be scrutinized, edited, and changed before they were published. Others were ‘killed’.
He weighs in on the 1982 coup incident. “Those who are saying that I have asked for compensation following the 1982 attempted coup are alarmists. There has not even been a single day when I have asked for compensation. Maybe if the current government can remember what happened during that period, they will give me something small. Anything that can help me” he says.
“I can say press freedom has grown tremendously. Back then, several journalists were arrested and put in cells. Others were taken to detention because they wrote true stories and did major exposes,” says Mbotela.
He took pride in mentoring journalists. “I listen to the radio and watch TV presenters and news readers. I call them a lot and tell them where they need to change or polish. Many of them have advanced because of my mentorship.
I have also been writing a book. Some challenges caused its delay, but God willing, it will be out before the year ends, and you will see it,” says Mbotela.
