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{
"id": 1521542,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1521542/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Faki",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": {
"id": 13211,
"legal_name": "Mohamed Faki Mwinyihaji",
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"content": "Mr. Speaker, Sir, I stand here, on behalf of Sen. Mungatana, the Senator for Tana River County, to move the following Motion- THAT AWARE THAT the late Leonard Mambo Mbotela, a renowned media personality passed away on 7th February, 2025, at the age of 84; COGNIZANT THAT he had an illustrious career in media spanning over five decades, and was one of the most influential voices in Kenyan radio, especially through his long running radio and television programme, “ Je, huu ni ungwana?”; FURTHER COGNIZANT THAT his command of the Kiswahili language kept Kenyans informed on many topics while his exceptional football commentaries on radio brought joy to many people and popularized the sport at a time when live football on television was rare; APPRECIATING the lasting legacy that he leaves in the media industry and the high esteem in which he was held by colleagues and persons from all walks of life; NOW THEREFORE the Senate expresses its deep sadness at the death of Mr. Mbotela, records its celebration and appreciation of his remarkable life, and extends its heartfelt sympathy and condolences to his family, friends and the nation. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the late Leonard Mambo Mbotela was a great media personality. He was one of the pioneer radio and television presenters who worked for the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC). At that time, it was the only station in our beloved country that was operating. He was in the league of Amina Faki, Khadija Ali, Ali Salim Manga, the late Mohammed Juma Njuguna and many others who I cannot remember off head. They were real nationalists who promoted Kiswahili language and nationhood in this Republic. The late Mbotela with his programme; Je, huu ni ungwana?, was able to impart nationalism, cultural values and many other things which would make many Kenyans flock to their television stations to listen. He contributed a lot to this country. It fits that as a country and the Senate of the Republic to celebrate and appreciate his life as a remarkable Kenyan. The late Mbotela was one of the pioneer slaves who were being ferried from Nyasaland, currently Malawi, to West Africa. At the time of the abolishment of slave trade, they were settled in Kenya. Part of the family settled in Mombasa County at a place called Frere Town. There is a thriving community of those people who have since become Kenyans. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."
},
{
"id": 1521543,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1521543/?format=api",
"text_counter": 103,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Faki",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": {
"id": 13211,
"legal_name": "Mohamed Faki Mwinyihaji",
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"content": "There are many people other communities that settled in Kenya before Independence. However, some of them have not gotten Identification (ID) cards up to now. For instance, the Pemba Community that was recognised recently. We also have the Makonde Community and many others who have been here for long, but have not been considered as Kenyans throughout their lives. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the passing on of Mbotela who mentored many radio and television presenters in this country, has been a great loss to our Republic. On behalf of the people of Mombasa, where he originated from, I convey my sincere condolences to the family, friends and workmates on the demise of this great person. I beg to move and invite Sen. Cherarkey Senator for Nandi County to second this Motion. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir."
},
{
"id": 1521544,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1521544/?format=api",
"text_counter": 104,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Cherarkey",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": {
"id": 13217,
"legal_name": "Cherarkey K Samson",
"slug": "cherarkey-k-samson"
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"content": "Sen. Mungatana requested Sen. Faki and I to move and to subsequently second. I will be very brief. Our heartfelt condolences and messages of goodwill to the family and friends of the late prolific radio and media personality, Leonard Mambo Mbotela. We continue to commiserate with the family. Many of us grew up listening to radio. Radio, unlike TV and other modes of communication has the highest coverage anywhere in the world, particularly in Kenya. For us who studied Geography, History and Civics (GHC), we will tell you modes of communication, include radio and other forms such as horns. The late Leonard Mambo Mbotela was one of the celebrated media personalities with high integrity. With the advent of brown envelope journalism, Leonard Mambo Mbotela stood against intimidation and blackmail. He resisted any form of brown envelope journalism that has engulfed the country. Secondly, as a country, we must learn to celebrate and honour our heroes. Sadly, Leonard Mambo Mbotela was interred at Lang’ata Cemetery. Somebody would say that in death all of us are equal. However, I was proposing that we have a hero's corner. When you go to Harare, Zimbabwe, heroes of the nation have a designated area where they can be buried not because they are better or because of class in death. No but to allow the generations that will come after have heritage where they can learn and know who these personalities are. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I am proposing and I hope the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs and Nairobi City County that is in charge can designate land where the national heroes should be buried. At some point, it was said Langata Cemetery was overflowing or there was no space anymore. So, I hope in future we should have a heroes’ corner where people of integrity who have served this nation with distinction that have been celebrated can be buried. I remember before the advent of devolution, there was a proposal to relocate Langata Cemetery to Mavoko. We know what happened because of the makaburi or the cemetery scandal that befell the Nairobi Local Government then through the Ministry of Local Government. This is a challenge. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."
},
{
"id": 1521545,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1521545/?format=api",
"text_counter": 105,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Cherarkey",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": {
"id": 13217,
"legal_name": "Cherarkey K Samson",
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"content": "I hope the Nairobi City County has the foresight to even do that. However, I do not think they have foresight, if they can take dirt at the front of Electricity House. That is another story for another day. The second thing such heroes whom we have full recognition of, should be honoured through a state burial. This is somebody who said, “ Je, huu ni Ungwana ?” If Leonard Mambo Mbotela would have a chance again in life, he would ask “ Je, huu niUngwana?” for most things that are happening in this country, including corruption, lethargy, poor governance, poverty, lack of water et cetera. Many Kenyans are going without food, including even those in Nairobi, like Mukuru kwa Njenga, Kibra and others. He would ask us as leaders, “ Je, huu niungwana?” We would be ashamed of it. It does not bring the goodness of what “J e huuni ungwana” would resonate well with many people. Under the National Heroes Council, I expected the brand-new Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Lands, Environment and Natural Resources, Sen. Faki, to propose a street to be named after Mambo Mbotela in Mombasa City County. We also want to ask the Government to name at least one or two streets in Nairobi and other cities in the country to celebrate him. Sometimes we have names that even do not belong to us and to the local people or local leadership. So, I want to ask national Government and the county government with a lot of respect to seize the moment and name one of the streets after Mambo Mbotela. The Kenyan Institute of Mass Communication (KIMC) here in Nairobi should be named after Leonard Mambo Mbotela so that the young men and women who study journalism there can learn how to be a good journalists, so that we do not have journalism that incites. We have a few branches of mass communication. On several occasions, I am very disappointed that every time I wake up, I see the national headlines of respectable newspapers inciting Kenyans against the Government of the day. Sometimes you wonder what the editorial policy of some of these media houses are. They put up funny things. One of these newspapers is The Nairobian . They are embarrassing Members of longstanding, like my brother from Turkana and many other Members. I am asking myself what is the editorial policy before publishing a screaming headline. Yesterday, the headline of the Daily Nation Newspaper was on how the Government is paying the elderly people their stipend through M-Pesa. However, when the Cabinet Secretary of Labour and Social Protection came, he gave the correct position. Why is it that way? I think Mambo Mbotela must be turning in his grave. The media and editorial policies that we have have been sensational. You read the headline and the story, the headline says something different from the story. Even in the reporting of the radio and news anchors. I do not know whether it is Kenyans who like negative news or is it that all media houses have decided to just be negative. You watch the Kenyan news. From item number one to number ten is only negative news. Somebody has been killed, people have demonstrated against the Government, somebody’s wife has been murdered somewhere, a church in Bomet called Bethel is beating worshippers and somebody is running away without clothes to the Indian Ocean. That is what we have glorified. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."
},
{
"id": 1521546,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1521546/?format=api",
"text_counter": 106,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Cherarkey",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": {
"id": 13217,
"legal_name": "Cherarkey K Samson",
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"content": "We must agree that in the spirit of protecting the independence of media, under Articles 34 and 35, they must also be responsible. That is why we are hesitant to regulate the media. We believe they should have self-regulation. I know of colleagues who have taken the media to court over misinformation and misrepresentation of facts. It is not hard. We respect and we celebrate the media. They are a medium of communication. They communicate to the people. As the proceedings continue in this House; it is media that we rely on to communicate through national televisions or local dialects. You saw yesterday and on many occasions, even in television interviews, when somebody made a glaring misinformation. However, the journalists were not seeking evidence to that effect. I do not think Mambo Mbotela envisaged a media that can be used as a tool of incitement. He envisaged a media that could rely on, accurate, verified and, most importantly, information that would protect the integrity of media in the country. We are not saying people should not criticise Parliament or the Judiciary or any other sector. We agree they have a role to play. However, we as a country, must demand that the media reports, accurate, verified and information with integrity. So, in the celebration of the life of Mambo Mbotela, we must do things that when he ask “ Je, huu ni ungwana ?” We would carry ourselves as leaders with dignity, respect and we must build the nation. I think that was the clarion call of the late Mambo Mbotela. I want to call upon national heroes to continue to award Mambo Mbotela posthumously with the highest honours so that many young journalists who are with us now can aspire to be at the level of Mambo Mbotela. With those very many remarks, as I second. I wish the family of late Mambo Mbotela the grace that surpasses human understanding. As they mourn their father, their husband, their grandfather, they also have a hope that the country continues to celebrate the great strides and achievements in the media industry. Mr. Speaker, Sir, with those many remarks, I second."
},
{
"id": 1521547,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1521547/?format=api",
"text_counter": 107,
"type": "scene",
"speaker_name": "",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "(Sen. (Dr.) Oburu entered the Chamber)"
},
{
"id": 1521548,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1521548/?format=api",
"text_counter": 108,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Hon. Kingi",
"speaker_title": "The Speaker",
"speaker": null,
"content": " Senator for Siaya, we are waiting for you to take your seat."
},
{
"id": 1521549,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1521549/?format=api",
"text_counter": 109,
"type": "scene",
"speaker_name": "",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "(Sen. (Dr.) Oburu approached the Speaker)"
},
{
"id": 1521550,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1521550/?format=api",
"text_counter": 110,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Hon. Kingi",
"speaker_title": "The Speaker",
"speaker": null,
"content": "You may take your seat, Senator."
},
{
"id": 1521551,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1521551/?format=api",
"text_counter": 111,
"type": "scene",
"speaker_name": "",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "(Question proposed)"
}
]
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