NAIROBI,Kenya, Oct, 8 – Celebrated and legendary broadcast giant Badi Muhsin is dead. His family confirmed the tragic news Friday evening.
The veteran swahili television anchor passed away while in Mombasa at the age of 67.
Endearingly simply referred to as Badi by those that knew him well, it is perhaps his second name that best defined what he embodied not only just as an accomplished, professional broadcaster but also as a father and friend to many.
Muhsin is an Arab name that loosely translates to the one who beautifies or improves or enriches, particularly one’s worship of or relationship with God.
It also means helper, someone that assists others in need.
It is the latter that many in the media fraternity have however come to associate Badi Muhsin with – A dependable mentor that has helped guide scores of journalists in the demanding media world.
Life in Kitui
Badi was born and raised in Kenya’s former Kitui District presently Kitui county under the current dispensation. As he proudly put it, “I have been born here, made friends here and even discovered my passion as a broadcaster here. Kitui is home,”
He went to school at Muslim Primary and later joined Kalawa Secondary School where as a young lad, he realised his gift as public speaker in his beloved swahili and later as commentator during some of the school’s major sporting events.
So renown was Badi at that stage as an amateur commentator that members of his community sought him to host some of the local events on a frequent basis.
During an interview with the late famous swahili author and journalist professor Ken Walibora, Badi credited his former member of parliament Kitui Central in the late 1970s Daniel Mutinda as the person that helped him secure an opportunity at the Broadcasting House eventually working for the Voice of Kenya (VoK).
“Mutinda at one point attended a sporting event where I was a commentator, after the game, he approached me and said that I was really talented and should perhaps try my luck as a broadcaster on the national stage. At the time he was the minister in charge of information and Broadcasting in the country. So he recommend me to the national broadcaster and I eventually got an opportunity as as a translator,” Said Badi.
Early Years in the Media.
In 1980, Badi would go on to kick start his career as a broadcaster by working as a translator. His core responsibilities at the the time were translating TV and Radio scripts from English to Kiswahili.
Though challenging navigating the media landscape at the time, he scaled through the ranks becoming a news editor and then proceeded to read the news highlights on the national radio, Voice of Kenya (VoK).
“It was very challenging during the early days when I was starting though I started reading the news highlights between, 10am, 11am and even at 12….never the news at that time,” he said.
He also worked at one point as a sports writer for the now defunct Kenya Leo.
His big break as he put it came when his boss told him that he would be reading the sports news and later in 1989 the main bulletin, going on to work alongside legendary broadcasters such as Ngulamu Mwaviro, Khamisi Themo and the late Daniel Njuguna Gatei.
For more than 20 years, Badi Muhsin, became a staple of Kenyan Television, renown for his ‘Dira Ya Dunia’ bulletin, personifying what a great news anchor and a model journalist should be. Though imitated Badi was surely never duplicated.
“Throughout my career I really thank God for what I achieved. Also I had colleagues like Stephen Kikumo, Salim Mohammed, Said Ali Matano, Daniel Njuguna Gatei, James Sabila and Abuki Bongeri who were always kind to me and gave me great advice when I was navigating my way in the industry” said Badi in a previous interview with the late Walibora.
Almost undetachable from KBC when it was the sole broadcaster to when the country’s airwaves were liberalised resulting in the emergence of various TV and Radio stations, Badi would retire in 2002 as he ventured into the private world as a PR and Communication consultant.
During this period he would go on to serve as mentor to upcoming journalists across the country, giving lectures and motivational talks in various universities.
Surprisingly, years later, Badi would make a triumphant comeback to the media industry as the oldest broadcaster, KBC sought his services in 2021 as part of revamp campaign. Badi alongside veteran journalists would go on to host a weekly news segment, christened, The Legends Edition or ‘Dira Ya Magwiji.’
“I always tell people that want to become journalist and even those working in newsrooms that, if you want to go far you must be very disciplined and consistent in what you do,”
Fare Thee Well Badi
Tributes and messages of condolences have been pouring in for the iconic broadcaster with friends and colleagues eulogising him as one of the country’s leading pioneer swahili news anchors.
“I worked and interacted with him at the then VOK’s (BH) at the sports desk and news room’s current affairs programme, ‘Yale yaliyotufikia’. I can attest he was an inspiring mentor. I knew him in my early childhood when he worked at Juhudi studios in Kitui town after he left Kalawa Secondary School. May his soul rest in peace.” Said Paul Mutua, veteran Journalist.
“Some of us that aspired to be journalists, watched Badi for so many years and when I came to KBC he welcomed us with open arms,” Said award Winning journalist Nancy Onyancha while announcing his demise Friday.
“It is very painful to lose someone that we have worked with,he will remain in the hearts of many because of the good work he has done…. wish the family of the deceased peace during this difficult time,” Said KBC swahili News Anchor Harith Salim.
In 2011 Badi was presented with the Order of the Grand Warrior (OGW) by retired president Mwai Kibaki for his outstanding service in media.
Badi leaves behind his wife and two children.
Want to send us a story? Contact Shahidi News Tel: +254115512797 (Mobile & WhatsApp)
