Leonard Mambo Mbotela was strict on discipline and mentor, family says

Veteran broadcaster Leonard Mambo Mbotela who died yesterday morning disciplined and mentored his siblings, his family said yesterday.

His younger brother Donald Mbotela said the broadcaster who was the first born in a family of eight children could always whip and counsel them whenever they went wrong.

Apart from being strict, he was described as a loving family man who always called his kin Mombasa to find out the progress.

Speaking at his home in Khamis estate, Changamwe in Mombasa county, Donald said Mambo died in a Nairobi hospital where he was being treated for pneumonia, diabetes and low blood pressure for two weeks.

The man who worked and lived in Nairobi also had age-related complications.

‘’He could cane us and give us wise counsel as his siblings. He lived up to his programme ‘Jee huu ni ungwana’ because he wanted things to be done in a straight manner. He wanted things to be done right,’’ he said.

Donald said he stayed with Mambo in hospital for one and half weeks and only returned to Mombasa on Tuesday this week after his condition had improved.

He said Mambo, 85, was in hospital for the last two weeks although he had been in and out of hospital before following his condition.

He said it was on Thursday night when he was told the broadcaster’s condition had deteriorated and then informed of the death at 9.30 am yesterday.

"I was shocked to learn of his death because his condition had greatly improved when I left Nairobi. He was stable,’’ he said.

Donald said the family will meet at Mambo’s home in Nairobi today to make burial arrangements. He said they may decide to lay the broadcaster in rest in Nairobi or bring the body to Mombasa.

Mambo, a father of three is survived by his widow Alice Mwikali and five grandchildren.

His sister-in-law Ms Mary Mbotela said Mambo always called the family from Nairobi to find out whether they are well.

His nephew James Mbotela said he was a joyful man and always uplifted anyone who visited him.

Born at Frere Town in Mombasa in 1940, the broadcaster had had a sterling media spanning over four decades.

Apart from the ‘Jee Ni Ungwana’ programme that he started in 1966, Mambo was remembered for his bravery during the 1982 coup attempt when he announced at gun point that the government of President Daniel arap Moi had been overturned.

He however announced to the country later that President Moi had taken full control of the government when the forces overpowered some elements in the military.

He was then working with the Voice of Kenya that changed to Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC).

Changamwe MP Omar Mwinyi urged government to support Mambo's family particularly in burial arrangements.

He said Mambo contributed immensely to the media industry and remained active even at old age and the government should recognise his efforts and support the family.