Edward Kwach: Life and times of Spice FM radio show host in photos

Edward Kwach was a voice that defined an era. Rising to fame in the early 2000s, he effortlessly commanded the airwaves with a laid-back charm and an exquisite ear for music.

From Capital FM to Homeboyz Radio, and later Spice FM, Kwach’s presence behind the mic left an indelible mark on Kenya’s radio scene.

His shows weren’t just about music, they were an experience. A seamless fusion of soul, pop culture banter, and sharp humour made him beloved across generations.

But behind the iconic voice was a man of many layers.

Born into prominence, Edward was the son of Justice Richard Kwach. His father’s rise from lawyer to Court of Appeal judge in 1988, particularly after handling landmark cases like the SM Otieno burial dispute, cast a long shadow.

Kwach, who also studied law, could have comfortably followed suit. Yet his destiny lay elsewhere.

“I got into media when I was 14,” he once recalled, referencing a Coca-Cola marketing campaign that sparked his passion for broadcasting.

Though he occasionally used his legal training in media contracts, it was clear his true calling was the microphone.

“The main thing... if you try and get into that same vocation, people don’t take you on merit. They say, ‘Nah this one is there because of his zack.’ Follow your own path,” Kwach once said.

And he did, making a name for himself as one of the most dynamic voices in Kenyan radio.

He debuted in 1996 at Capital FM. “Studios then and now have changed... now it’s audiovisual,” he remarked with his signature wit. His return to Spice FM marked a new chapter in a career defined by reinvention.

Social media revolutionised the game, but Kwach navigated the change with insight and humour.

“Back in the day... it was the newspaper or phone calls,” he said.

Yet even in this digital age, a past controversy would haunt him, an altercation involving rapper Collo after his wallet was allegedly stolen, which led to his dismissal from Radio Africa.

“I was cooked,” he said of his earlier downfall in 2003, admitting to indiscipline while co-hosting with Caroline Mutoko.

Despite these setbacks, Kwach’s resilience shone through. He rebuilt, returning to radio, launching Urban Radio, and later venturing into advertising and trade.

Urban Radio, his brainchild, aimed to decentralise English radio through county stations. Though it eventually collapsed, the vision spoke volumes of his entrepreneurial spirit.

“By June 2014... I said skip it,” he recalled. The fallout was acrimonious, but Kwach moved on.

He later resurfaced at Hot96, then Nation, before being retrenched in 2013. But radio was in his blood.

In 2021, he made a powerful return to The Standard Group’s Spice FM alongside Monique Bett. “I’m back home,” he declared.

Kwach mentored countless broadcasters, his impact echoed in heartfelt tributes following his death from meningitis on April 28, 2025.

Radio legend Maina Kageni honoured him: “Edward... you were the greatest radio personality Kenya has ever produced... adios, we love you.”

Caroline Radull echoed the sentiment: “Goodbye Kwach. Til we meet again.”

A family statement by Michael Okwiri confirmed his passing, describing him as a beloved son, brother, and friend whose voice comforted the nation.

“His passing is a tremendous loss to all who knew him personally and the many more who connected with him through his work,” it read.

Edward Kwach lived loudly, laughed deeply, and spoke with a voice that will forever echo through Kenya’s radio history.