Veteran KBC Journalist George Opiyo Dies In Nairobi

Veteran broadcaster and former Director of Information and Public Communications, George Opiyo, died on Wednesday, October 19.

In a statement by the Ministry of Information, Communication and Digital Economy, Opiyo died at a Nairobi Hospital where he was admitted for the past two weeks.

Opiyo had also served at the Kenya News Agency (KNA) whereby he mentored a majority of journalists and supported their growth in their careers.

The late veteran broadcaster, George Opiyo. /FACEBOOK

“Director of Public Communications Practitioners and the Kenya News Agency (KNA) officers continue to mourn the late Opiyo who professionally mentored most of them and supported their professional progression,” read part of the ministry’s condolence message.

The Ministry however did not reveal details regarding the cause of his death.

Radio Citizen's Fred Obachi Machoka recalled Opiyo's dominance in the old days when he established himself as a real force in the media industry.

"The young generation may not know of him, on the other hand, the older generation will not require any introduction, this was a legend in broadcasting terms! George Opiyo, he of the famous "Yours for the asking Saturday Edition" VoK English Service.

"The man who introduced L'Orchestre Les Mangelepa to Kenyans via Jojo Productions," he mourned.

Music Copyright Society of Kenya (MCSK) Chief Executive Officer, Ezekiel Mutua revealed that he was saddened by Opiyo's passing given that he was his mentor when he was serving at the Department of Information as Director between 2007 and 2011.

A Facebook user, Diana Mercy, penned a moving tribute to the late Opiyo, hailing him as a man who had gifted her a pair of school shoes, her first which she wore during her ninth birthday when her grandmother used to supply food to his mansion.

“On that day before he offered me the shoes, he said ‘Ladies please work hard and take care of your grandparent. Do you see how your grandma/grandpa has worked so hard to take care of you?”

“He couldn’t remember me, but I was also afraid of reminding him who I was because I felt I didn’t fulfil his dream for me; today, he is no more. I’m in pain because he died before I could fulfil that dream. Rest in Peace Wakili George Opiyo," she wrote.

Opiyo is famed for writing on the Saturday Edition and broadcasting on the Voice of Kenya (VoK) English service before VoK was renamed the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC).