Radio veteran Maina Kageni has reflected on his remarkable broadcasting journey. He spoke to CNN international correspondent Larry Madowo during a candid interview on the road.
The conversation shed light on a career that spans close to three decades. It also highlighted a rare radio partnership that has captivated the nation.
Kageni has been a major figure on Kenyan radio for 27 years, starting his career at Capital FM in 1999. He later worked at Kiss 100 before joining Classic 105 FM in 2004.
It was during this station reformat that he teamed up with his longtime co-host, Daniel Ndambuki. Ndambuki is widely known to listeners as Mwalimu King’ang’i, or the comedian Churchill.
“Since I started at Capital 1999, joined Kiss100 FM, then when they reformatted Classic 105, I joined in 2004. That’s when I started working with my co-host,” he revealed.
Together, they have hosted “Maina and King’ang’i in the Morning” on Classic 105 FM for 22 years.
A Surprise Call from a ‘Brother’
The CNN interview took an unexpected turn when King’ang’i rang Kageni’s phone. Madowo seized the moment and placed the call on speakerphone. He asked the co-host what it has been like to work together for 22 years.
King’ang’i did not hold back with his praise. He immediately expressed his deep respect for Kageni’s professional talent.
King’ang’i explained that their partnership is built on far more than just natural talent or humour. He highlighted the intense work ethic that is required to stay at the top of the morning radio ratings for over two decades.
“Maina is a genius. I think the one part that people don’t understand is the sacrifice and the dedication that comes with that job. You know, it’s not about having a good voice and a boisterous laughter. It’s about the commitment,” Mwalimu King’ang’i said via phone.
The Art of Reinvention
During the interview, Madowo asked Kageni how he has managed to remain relevant as the media landscape shifted around him. The veteran presenter did not attribute his success to luck or complacency. Instead, he pointed to a disciplined approach to his craft.
Kageni explained that he makes a habit of overhauling his broadcasting style every few years. He believes that this willingness to change is the main reason he has survived shifting listener tastes.In an industrythat often seestalentfadequickly, his adaptability has kept him at the forefront.
The unplanned call on the road showed the genuine connection between the two presenters. It is a bond that King’ang’i described on air as his “brother from another mother.”
