Leonard Mambo Mbotela Wiki, Height, Age, Parents, Siblings, Wife, Net Worth, Career, Veteran Journalist

Leonard Mambo Mbotela Wiki, Biography

Leonard Mambo Mbotela, a former Kenyan veteran journalist, radio presenter who has been on the limelight for over five decades. Mbotela unfortunately succumbed to illness on the 7th of February 2025 at the age of 85 years. 

Leonard Mambo Mbotela Height|Weight

Mambo stood at an approximate height of 5 feet 7 inches and weighed around 60 KG.

Leonard Mambo Mbotela Age

Mbotela was born on the 29th of May 1940 at Lady Grigg Hospital, Mombasa. He unfortunately succumbed to illness on the 7th of February 2025 receiving treatment at Nairobi West Hospital in Nairobi, having been admitted two weeks earlier.

Leonard Mambo Mbotela Parents|Siblings|Relatives

Leonard Mambo Mbotela was born at Lady Grigg Hospital in Mombasa on May 29, 1940. He was the eldest of eight children, born to James and Aida Mbotela, both of whom are now deceased. His father, who was a teacher, worked at various schools including Shimo La Tewa High School and Kabianga High School, eventually retiring as an educational officer. His mother was employed with "Maendeleo ya Wanawake."

Leonard Mambo Mbotela Photo

Leonard Mambo Mbotela Net Worth

In the course of his career as a Journalist, Leonard has been able to accumulate a net worth of between $500,000 and $4 Million.

Leonard Mambo Mbotela Partner|Wife

Mbotela was married to his beloved and beautiful wife Alice Mwikali. Together the duo bore three children namely, Ida Mbotela, George Mbotela and Jimmy Mbotela. 

Leonard Mambo Mbotela Educational Background

Mambo Mbotela stated that he had always yearned to be a broadcaster from his childhood. He stated that he always enjoyed talking and interacting with people of all kinds. Mbotela completed his secondary education in the year 1962.

Leonard Mambo Mbotela Job|Career|Biography

After finishing his secondary education in 1962 at Kitui High School, Mbotela began working in Nakuru as a trainee reporter with The Standard. In 1964, he joined the Voice of Kenya, which is now known as Kenya Broadcasting Corporation. He created his signature program Je Huu ni Ungwana? in 1966, which still airs on KBC radio today, making it the longest-running program in the industry. It has been on air for over five decades.

In 1967, he traveled to London to undergo a year of journalism training at the British Broadcasting Corporation. Later on, in the year,1982, during a failed coup attempt to overthrow then-president Daniel arap Moi, Mbotela was captured by the plotters. He was forced to announce on live television that the country was under military control and that the president had been ousted. 

The situation was later brought under control by the GSU and regular police, led by Major General Mahamoud Mohamed, and Mbotela was asked to broadcast that the rebels had been defeated and that the president's control had been restored. Mbotela retired in 2022 as Kenya’s longest-serving broadcaster, having been on air for 58 years.

Leonard Mambo Mbotela Illness and Death|Cause of Death

Mbotela had been hospitalized multiple times before his passing. In 2020, he was admitted to Nairobi South Hospital for two weeks and reached out to Kenyans and well-wishers for assistance with his hospital bill. Then-President Uhuru Kenyatta stepped in and paid Kshs 1.1 million to help cover the expenses. Mbotela passed away on February 7, 2025, at the age of 84. He had been receiving treatment at Nairobi West Hospital, where he had been admitted two weeks prior to his death.