Journalist Yassin Juma has explained the recent controversy that Legendary journalist Mambo Mbotela will be buried at Lang’ata Cemetry.
The veteran journalist died on 7th February after a short illness while receiving treatment at Nairobi West Hospital.
According to reports, he will be buried at Lang’ata Cemetry on 15th February 2025 which led to criticism among Kenyans who included Fred Obachi Machoka.
Obachi felt that it was disrespectful for a legend such as Mbotela who have contributed largely in Kenya to be buried there and suggested that there should be ‘Heroes corner’ where people who are viewed as heroes in the country are buried.
However, Yassin revealed that Mbotela’s ancestral home is village of Mpanda on the shores of Lake Malawi in Malawi as he is not of coast indigenous.
The legendary journalist is of Yao ethnic and a descendant of a freed slave Mzee Mbotela who was rescued from an Arab slave in the 1860’s.
Mzee Mbotela married a fellow Malawian he met at Freretown freed settlement Ida Halima with whom they had a son Juma Mbotela who later married on a freed slave from Seychelles Grace David.
Mentioning that most of Mbotela’s relatives are buried at the public Cemetry at frere town Mombasa, Yassin emphasized that his family wishes that he be laid to rest at Lang’ata and requested Kenyans to respect their choice.
