NAIROBI, Kenya — Veteran journalist Charles Omuga Kabisae, a renowned broadcaster with the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC), has passed away after a prolonged illness. His family confirmed that he died on Monday, August 11, 2025, marking the end of a long and distinguished career in Kenyan radio.
For decades, Omuga’s calm, resonant voice was a familiar presence in Kenyan homes. He was particularly well-known for his dignified and humble delivery of news bulletins and, most notably, “matangazo maalum na ya vifo” (special and death announcements).
To many, he was more than a broadcaster; he was a trusted companion who brought a sense of comfort and respect during sensitive moments.
Omuga’s career began at KBC’s Dholuo Service in Kisumu, where his commanding tone quickly set him apart. By the early 1990s, he transitioned to the national Kiswahili Service, which broadened his reach to a national audience and cemented his place as a pillar of Kenyan journalism.
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His reputation for professionalism was forged early in his career through a defining moment. During an internship, he mistakenly announced a death that later turned out to be false. Instead of shying away, he returned to the air to correct the error with grace and composure, an act that deeply impressed his superiors and led to him being offered a permanent position.
Charles Omuga Kabisae’s legacy is not just in the words he delivered, but in the enduring trust and dignity he instilled in broadcasting.
His passing is seen as the end of an era, but the trust he built will continue to resonate long after his voice has gone silent.
