Leonard Mambo Mbotela Narrates His Kidnapping By Hezekiah Ochuka In Attempted Coup: "Singekuwa Hapa"

• Legendary journalist Leonard Mambo Mbotela is known for his loving stint at the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC)
• He was the famed voice behind KBC's Jee Huu Ni Ungwana programme, which received massive viewership all over the country
• However, Mbotela's broadcasting career was not all rosy, as he shared in an interview with former Churchill show comic Chipukeezy

Veteran broadcaster Leonard Mambo Mbotela has recounted a terrifying ordeal from his time as a reporter, which has stuck with him to date.

What happened to Leonard Mambo Mbotela during the coup?

Speaking on the Chipukeezy show, Mbotela revealed the details of Hezekiah Ochuka's 1982 coup against then-president Daniel Arap Moi.

The former news anchor said he had just returned home from the airport, where he had dropped off his sister travelling to the United States.

He lay down for a nap only to be awoken by a series of loud knocks at his door.

As the head of the Swahili news department at the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC), formerly known as Voice of Kenya (VOK), he assumed that there was an emergency at the station and that he was needed.

He opened the door only to be met by his shaken driver, who told him somebody wanted to see him in the car.

Mbotela explains that the man in the car was none other than Kenya Airforce Senior Private Ochuka, the leader of the coup.

Ochuka ordered him to get dressed before the rebel soldiers forcibly took the broadcaster from his home.

He says he bid his family goodbye, not knowing whether he would ever see them again.

"I was sandwiched between my driver and an army man who I later found out was coup leader Ochuka," Mbotela stated.

Mbotela's coup report

The veteran journalist says they ferried him to VOK, where they wrote him a script declaring Ochuka the new president.

Petrified, the veteran journalist read it word for word, urging citizens to stay home until they received more information.

"I was shaking as I made the broadcast....'Dear listener, my name is Leornard Mambo Mbotela from VOK, and I have here with me Hezekiah Ochuka. President Moi's government has been overthrown, and Ochuka is the new president. Everyone is now a civilian. I urge you to stay indoors until further notice," Mbotela recounted the report he read to Kenyans.

Soon after, army loyalists stormed the station in search of Ochuka and his men, whom Mbotela says fled upon the sight of the loyalists.

Mbotela faces General Mahamoud Mohamed

Loyalist General Mahamoud Mohamed confronted Mbotela and demanded that he make another broadcast to retract his earlier statement and announce that the coup had failed and President Moi was still in charge.

The news anchor complied and made the announcement, hoping to end his nightmare.

"I have General Mahamoud Mohamed with me, who has come to save our country. The coup has failed, and President Moi is still the head of state...don't panic and stay home until further notice," Mbotela recited his report.

Fortunately, he survived the ordeal and reunited with his family.

Mbotela sworn in as member of National Heroes Council

In 2022, Mbotela was sworn in to serve as the National Heroes Council member.

The veteran journalist took his oath of office during the swearing-in ceremony officiated by Chief Justice Martha Koome.

After taking an oath of office, Mbotela stated that he was surprised he was selected to serve on the council.