Catherine Kasavuli

Never has there been a media personality that for decades mesmerized viewers in our beautiful country, akiii..so engrossed by her that she was the talk of town be it in admiration for her talent and beauty or gossips about her relationships. She was the embodiment of calm...even in situations that’d have driven any human to depression, she had quips that got many rolling with laughter. I struggled alot with my celebrity status during my formative years in media...and she, like the amazing mom she was, guided me gently and when absolutely necessary, firmly through it all..from how to handle both negative and tough but constructive criticism, how to use a studio/lapel microphone (you’d be surprised what she sounded like with and without one in a training session) to how to balance my private and public life. Kassav....was an all rounded beautiful woman...beautiful soul...a heart of gold....and the ultimate celebrity...I....chose not to visit her in hospital...I know that sounds...bad...I’m sorry Martin....I’m  sorry but...I couldn’t......I’ve had my share of losing loved ones through cancer and to date..their memories still....still....Oh God....Thank you, Kassav...for being my mentor....my guide...my industry guardian..for your professionalism that is etched I’m my being....I will miss you..oooh sooo terribly....Sleep with the angels. Amen????????????????????????????????????????????????

MY ENCOMIUM - CATHERINE KASAVULI

BY DAUDI KANJA

My journey in Broadcasting more or less started off at the same time as the Legendary Catherine Kasavuli’s in the early ‘80s.
Not that we were age mates, but in all spheres as a scion villager “kutoka huko Mwisho wa lami” stuff on my side were “kinda” slow.
I wouldn’t  say we were soul mates but rather good friends and more so anchored on our trio buddiship that embedded our common friend from Zimbabwe ,Everett Mutungwazi: Everett had a crush on Cate but,beyond  niceties there was nothing more.
Her Broadcast acumen was beyond reproach- whilst my”mironess” would spew words like issue as “ ishiu” Catherine’s  would intone it as “iciu”…. year would sound like “ear” with me juxtaposed  to  Cate’s intoned English that would bring it out as “ iia”, et al.
Thus my “ usunguniness” would be unwelcome in General Service of the VOICE OF KENYA, where the likes of Sammy Lui, Norbert Okare, Wanjiru Kanyago, Joe Mwangi,Steve Macharia, Nicola Miyawa etc had set higher trajectories  focusing on a demographic that  was well schooled in High end Academic Institutions within and without Nairobi.
As Catherine prospered in English Service, I too equally prospered in Idhaa ya Taifa having morphed my village ness to Uswahili ness - this, out of GOD’s grace.
When Catherine, moved to KTN as a News Anchor , yours truly, moved into the Advertising  world,with our rare Coffee meet ups having too dwindled due to our common friend retracing his footsteps back to Zimbabwe on completing his Sound Electronic Engineering course at the Kenya Institute of Mass Communication. 
On leaving KBC I would confidently say our Broadcasting skills had grown better to fit in greener pastures.
From that point on I would only watch Catherine Kasavuli’s gracefulness on TV , having been domiciled at both KTN, CITIZEN TV and later KBC TV where she had debuted in TV News Anchoring: Now in Legends Edition.
This is where our reunion came to be,having been invited as guest in KBC’s Legends Edition!
In making one feel in utopia Catherine had her own way of communicating.
It was towards 7PM and I had arrived at KBC riding my CBR Fireblade Honda Super Bike - a 1000CC.
Bestriding through the KBC corridors in gait,to meet the Anchor  for the  interview session I come face to face with Catherine Kasavuli “ en face de face”- and her beauty manifesting itself by her signature smile with an embodiment of a  glowing face!
NOTE, our last “rendezvous” must have been over 30 years ago!
“ Ooooooh ! Kanja, it’s you! she shouts rushing towards me- still as handsome as ever! We embrace!
We exchange niceties but hurriedly because I’m being awaited for an interview session!
We exchange contacts and off we despatch!
BUT, not before I pass through the washrooms to confirm  Catherine Kasavuli’s compliments : “ KANJA STILL HANDSOME AS EVER”! - This,though,talking to a sexagenarian, aging gracefully! 
That was Catherine Kasavuli’s attributes- genteel to the core.
May she RIP!

I owe my communications career to women. Sitting in a KBC Newsroom as a sports reporter rookie, silently waiting for another assignment from Joseph Onyango, the suarve Sports Editor then. Those early 90's, shuttling between Kibwana Onguso's productions, dabbling in John Obongo Jr's Jazz Hour and racing back to impress Onyango for a job, remind me of the tough in me. 

Mariam Lyambila, born and raised in Ghetto Majengo must have noticed this young lad, straight outta the California hood, English better than the Queen of England herself, struggling with coping with the harsh KBC environment. 

'I'll send you to someone at KTN and he'll give you a job' she almost whispered as though dreaded Editor Maritim would use that information against her. 

10am next morning I was 20 floors above Nairobi city, 4 floors under the Nyayo House dungeons, waiting at a crowded reception to see Topi Lyambila. 

Suave Chops, as we later fondly referred to him, sauntered into the security area, called my name, ushered me into the newsroom and Kaboom, there she was, sitting in the corner of the room, lighting up every corner - Catherine Kasavuli. 

'Guys this is Alen and he'll be my assistant on the sports desk' Chops roared with a cheeky smile splashed over his dark face. 

Martin, if your reading this, your most remarkable mother was the first to say 'welcome young man. Feel at home, while Alen Kobia swiftly opened the newsroom door, cracked a joke and left everyone in stitches, including me who didn't know him. 

Few days later I was introduced to the local joint Harvest Restaurant, where the who is who in KTN passed by for a sip of the Kilimanjaro Waters after a hard day at work. 

Kasav, in all her celebrity glory never intimidated anyone one of us. Not even those she bumped into in a Nairobi Street when she would occassionally cross the road to Havenye, as we called it then to hangout with colleagues. 

Where she went she was radiant. Whatever she said was controlled, motherly and with that ever radiating smile and poise. 

Her party hosting skills during a single party I was privileged to be invited to attend at her Kile apartment, was memorable. That is the day I discovered she was Luhya, Omukana Omurogori, she would quip with the satisfaction of a child whose just me Batman for the first time. And she was proud to be Maragoli.

Once she came down in me for coming to work late. There was a World Cup Cricket tournament that was going on that KTN was sponsoring. The feed had been pathetic the whole week. 3 days in and I was exhausted trying to understand Cricket as I reedited the feed for broadcast. A few botties at Visions later that night caused trouble for me with Kadav the next day. 

She disciplined me with kindness, but I will never forget how her goddess lips, always lipsticked twirled in anger, her eyes sqaurely fixed on mine, telling me not to joke with my work. Nilikoma aisee. 

The ordering of chips and chicken from Kenchick Jivanjee were literally an event in the newsroom. Kasav never missed a moment of that. 

Kasav made stardom simple. She enjoyed the moment with grace an honor. 

When her body begun to deteriorate, fighting cancer to the very last drop, my heart sank with fear for what would happen to her. My later mother Rose, may she rest in peace, who succumbed to cancer in the mid 80's must be sharing Holy Tea with Kasav and thanking her profusely for being a wonderful person to her son, in her absence.

Omukana Omurogori, my elder sister, you have fought the good fight and your reward in Heaven, I am sure is guaranteed. We celebrate your remarkable life and hope that you will reincarnate as a legend in someone else's daughter that you impressed and mentored. 

Fare Thee Well Kasav. Mwenyezi Mungu akurehemu na akupe uzima wa milele. Pumzika Kwa Amani Omukoko! Kona bhulai koo! 

Cate, I lack words to express how I'm feeling this moment. My heart is filled with a lot of sadness but also fond memories of the beautiful moments we spent together. I still can't believe you are gone ???? even after our last conversation that we were going to have our coffee. You were a mother to me, more than a friend, my confidant, my mentor and my sister. Your advice and encouragement made me who I am today in the media space. I feel so much pain when I remember our first recording during the launch of the KBC legends edition You, Badi and myself laughing throughout the recording. The two of you have left a very big gap which I just don't know... I leave it to God ????. May your souls rest well.  Cate, I will truly miss you. Thank you so much for embracing me as a sister and always teaching me how to carry myself in this media field. I will not forget the prayers we used to make before going to the studio to present the bulletin. Thank You Cate. I will miss your calls every night and how you used to  check on my son and wishing him well as he was preparing for his final exams. Oh Cate I don't know what to say. It is God that gives and also He that takes. We will accept his will and ask the He rests your soul in eternal peace. Rest well my dear, till we meet again in the Lord's feet.

It's her beauty and angelic smile that introduced me to Catherine,I think she was the most beautiful face to crown our TV..

I grew up in a generation that found news boring,a serious TV time for the old,9pm was a cue to pick yourself and gadgets up to the bedroom.

But not when Cate was presenting News,there was always something to look forward to,..

Her infectious smile,her elegant style,the eloquence and the sweetness in her voice while reading News!

How can any sane person miss that!

While many households remote buttons got stuck on Citizen, NTV,K24 etc, ours found itself shuffling from all those other stations to KBC when the Legends edition was introduced.

It's not even been a year, and we've lost her.

Cancer freaks me out, Cancer gives me chills,it has hit close home twice and my heart sinks everytime I hear someone has cancer.

I didn't like how it ravaged my idol so fast..

This was a flower still blooming,still showing off it's beauty under the rays,..

Rest in peace our Mkhana,yours was a death not necessary.

When Catherine Kasavuli was admitted to hospital, a week passed and I hadn't been to see her. 

She almost literally 'instructed' Pauline Shegu and Topi Lyambila  to look for me! She always said I was a good storyteller and we'd spend quite some time at my office after hours talking about virtually everything.

Not many people know this, but on several occasions she'd help me select the playlist for the SundownerTV show, which I produce.(The Manhattans, Barry White, James Ingram, Peabo, Luther, Smokey, Billy Ocean - name it!) On one of the hospital visits, I recall Catherine's mum telling me that she's an avid fan; and she did so in such impeccable English! - why am I NOT surprised?!

'Kasav' had a sense of humor; she used to joke that since our mobile phone lines were 'extensions', Safaricom & Airtel shouldn't charge calls between us. Reason: Our numbers were (coincidentally) identical, save for one digit!

I'm indebted to Topi and Shegu for contacting me ASAP. In retrospect, I'm so grateful that I'd see her ever so often (after that initial visit to the hospital). We'd literally talk for hours on end... Little did I know it, but it was probably her way of saying her Goodbyes!

I feel honored that she valued my company; so did I hers! She was always in high spirits and I always looked forward to the hospital visits.

Unfortunately, her health took a sudden dip and a week ago, she was rushed to the ICU... 

I loathe feeling helpless. Seeing a friend in excruciating pain and still being able to put on a brave face; being able to laugh at my 'silly' jokes...Not being able to do more...They say that sometimes, just being there matters. There's a Country song with the title "You say it best when you say nothing at all." Is it true? 

I wish there was a way we could spread the pain amongst those that truly care, so as to ease the pain our loved ones endure... 

When good people transition, they leave a part of them behind.

A good part. 

In our memories... 

And more importantly, in our hearts!

My thoughts and prayers go out to Martin & the immediate family. You're in my thoughts and prayers. 

Goodbye, my good friend & 'big sis' 
... I'll see you again on the other side!