Veteran Kenyan radio journalist Mohammed Juma Njuguna has passed on.
Juma died on Saturday morning while receiving treatment at Nairobi Hospital. He had been battling illness for long.
Until his death, the football commentator was working as a content producer at Royal Media Services’ Radio Citizen.
Royal Media Services poached Juma from Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) in 1999.
He also worked for BBC Swahili Service for a period of three years.
In 2010, retired President Mwai Kibaki awarded the radio host with a Head of State Commendation for his illustrious career in media that spans more than four decades.
“Our paths crossed on so many occasions. A friend. A mentor. Veteran Radio Presenter and football commentator Mohammed Juma Njuguna has died. Rest in peace, my friend.” Sports journalist Carol Radull tweeted.
“My mentor, my friend, my teacher… I am lost for words. RIP Mohammed Juma Njuguna wa Idhaa,” ODM Communications Director Philip Etale said on Twitter.
He will be buried at Kariokor Muslim Cemetery at 4 pm on Saturday as per Islam traditions.
Kila wakati jina la Mohamed…
Kila wakati jina la Mohamed Juma Njuguna linapopeperushwa redioni, utu, heshima, hekima, na wito wa kuchapa kazi, unasheheni. Utangazaji wa siku hizo za miaka ya 60, 70, 80 na mwanzo mwanzo wa mwaka wa 1990, ulikuwa wa kutamaniwa. Vijana chipukizi kama mie Mjuaji nalipenda kumuiga marehemu Njuguna hasa katika ujana wangu wa kupenda na kuucheza mpira wa miguu kwa ufanisi mkubwa. Muhamed Juma Njuguna alikuwa kipenzi change hasa alipotangaza mpira redioni na kujiona kana kwamba upo Nyayo Stadium, au Kasarani. Zama hizo, mashirika yote ya serikali yalikuwa yakibuni na kudhamini timu za mpira zilizobuniwa na wafanyazi wao. Kulikuwa na Stima Fc, Mumuias FC, Posta FC, Bandari FC, na timu za kikabila kama vile Gor Mahia na Abaluhya Leopards FC. Wengine waliotuzuzua na sauti nyororo kama ya ninga walikuwa Leonard Baraka Mambo Mbotela. Katika vipindi vingine vya Sauti Ya Kenya(Voice of Kenya)mlikuwa na watangazaji wa dhati katika General Service ambao pia waliwatumbuiza wasikilizaji bara bara kama vile Abdul Haq, Kazungu Katana, Elizabeth Obege, Elizabeth Omollo, Billy Omala, Amina Fadhii, Ishmail Mohamed, Jacob William Maunda, Khadija Ali, Stephen Kikumu, Hassan Mazoa, Sammy Lui, Peter Njoroge, Ali Salim Manga, Khamisi Themor, Daniel Gatei, Ngulamu Mwaviro, Martin Nyongesa King’asia, Catherine Kasavuli, Fred Ombati Machokaa, Mwangemi, Leonard Mwashegwa, John Obongo Jr na kadharika. Katika vipindi vya vichekesho kulikuwa na kile cha “Vitimbi” ambacho mwanzo kilijulikana kama “Kivunja Mbavu” miaka ya sabini. Wachezaji wake walikuwa Mzee Ojwang, Mutiso,Othorong’ong’o Danger, Makanyanga, Mama Kayai, Amka Twende, ambapo Wakenya wengi walisongana na kukongamana katika majumba ya kijamii kwani runinga au TV zilikuwa haba na ghali kumiliki. Katika mji nilikotoka, kulikuwa na runinga mbili tu, moja ilionunuliwa na Shirika la Reli kwa wafanyakazi wake, na nyingine katika chumba cha kijamii. Kinyume na ilvyo katika watangazaji wa siku hizi ambao huleta filamu za aibu na kuvaa mavazi ya kutatanisha, watangazaji wa nyakati hizo walivaa nadhifu na kwa njia ya kuheshimika, maneno yaliochujwa, na vipindi ambavyo vilikusudiwa kuwatumbuiza na kuwaelimisha Wakenya sampuri mbalimbali: wadogo kwa wazee. Watangazaji wa siku hizo walishughurika tu na kuchapa kazi…kutenda kazi. Diposa kwangu namuomboleza kakangu huyu aliyebadilisha nchi ya Kenya kwa njia zake na muundo wake. Wote hawa hawakujitakia makuu kama ilivyo siku hizi katika nyanja za utangazaji na uandishi wa habari. Ilikuwa nadra kumiliki kisanduku cha redio nyakati hizo, na waliokuwa nacho, walijulikana kote mote vijijini na mijini. Umaskini ulikidhiri wananchi zaidi ya ilivyo sasa, na redio ilikuwa njia moja ya kujikakamua na kusau unyanyasaji uliokuwa ukiwaponda ponda na kuwapooza wananchi kila mahali ulipotembea. Diposa namuomba Maulana ailaze roho ya ndugu yetu Mohamed Juma Njuguna mahali pema palipo na wema, mle peponi.
Fare thee well. His…
Fare thee well. His commentary of football on radio is legendary. He could make one feel like he know the players yet some of us had never seen them in real life