Sifuna Makes Special Request To Govt To Honor Catherine Kasavuli

Nairobi Senator, Edwin Sifuna has called upon President William Ruto's administration to honour the late veteran news anchor, Catherine Kasavuli by building a national monument for Kenyans to remember her.

Speaking during the funeral service of the late Kasavuli at Friends Church in Nairobi, Sifuna commended the Head of State for appointing Sports Cabinet Secretary (CS) Ababu Namwamba for also being tasked to oversee matters regarding Kenya's culture.

He called upon the government to honour prominent Kenyans who passed away over the years, including Kasavuli who made an extraordinary name for herself as the first female news anchor in the country.

"These people need to be taken care of and I am happy that the CS for Sports is also the CS for Culture. Let us have a way of ensuring that these heroes that are celebrated in death are celebrated even in life. 

"We want something national...a national monument, something we can remember Catherine Kasavuli for, even if for you as the current administration just builds one theatre or a training school for people to go into TV and production and name it after Catherine Kasavuli...we will appreciate that you have done something for the people of Kenya," he said.

Sifuna further expressed the plight of Kenyans who work in the media industry, noting that news anchors in particular go through challenges just like ordinary human beings, away from the glitzy life their viewers are made to believe when they present themselves on television screens.

He criticised Kenyan media houses for failing to cater to the needs of those behind the scenes while revealing the expensive nature of the outfits news anchors wear every time they present news bulletins, including weaves for women.

"I have had the privilege of being the Secretary-General (SG) of ODM to interact with members of the media. Not everything that you see about the lives of the people you see on TV is as glamorous as it looks. These people have challenges and problems and face issues just like ourselves 

"Many of these media houses...many of them are my friends...but I must say they don't take care of the people behind the screens as much as they should. It is just a fact. When you say you need to dress well...those clothes are expensive, shoes are expensive...even these days I hear that you cannot read the news without a weave, I don't know why...even they have a price," he added.

Sifuna's tribute and light moments were among the pick of light moments during the solemn occasion of Kasavuli's memorial service, electrified by the master of the ceremony, Dr Ofweneke, who was able to lighten the mood and bring some much-needed joy to the mourners.

Some of the speakers applauded him for bringing his comedic touch to the service which helped them to cope with the loss and to celebrate the life of the late Catherine Kasavuli.