Veteran media personality Leonard Mambo Mbotela has died.
His daughter-in-law Anne Mbotela confirmed to the Star his death.
The veteran journalist had been unwell for some time and he breathed his last at around 9:30 am on Friday.
"It is true my father-in-law has passed on," Anne told the Star.
Mbotela was married to Alice Mwikali who together had three children: Aida Mbotela, Jimmy Mbotela and George Mbotela.
The legendary journalist was famed for his popular radio and TV programme dubbed Jee Huuu ni Ungwana which aired on KBC radio and TV.
The programme was created in 1966 and it enjoyed coverage for about 55 years.
He briefly worked with Kenya Weekly News and the East African Standard before joining KBC.
The veteran journalist was born in Freetown, Mombasa in 1940 to James and Aida Mbotela. He was the firstborn in a family of eight children.
Having practised journalism for over five decades, a major highlight of his career is the 1982 coup that sought to overthrow then-President Danie Moi.
The operation saw 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.
Present while announcing was Private Hezekiah Ochuka.
The situation was however reversed after the GSU and later
the regular Police led by Major General Mahamoud Mohamed thwarted the coup attempt
and Mbotela was asked to announce that Moi was firmly in control of the country
as President.