JOE KADHI
Legend
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Michael Curtis, Allen Armstrong,
John Bierman, Gerry Loughran, Jack Beverley, Mike Chester, John Dumoga, Tony
Dunn, Cyprian Fernandes, Henry Gathigara, Samy Githenji, Bill Harris, Mike
Harris, Charles Hayes, Ron Jones, Joe Kadhi, Joseph Karimi, Barbara Kimenye, Brian
Marsden, Chege Mbituru, George Mbugguss, Bob Muthusi, Joram Amadi, Boaz Omori,
John McHaffie, Hilary Ng’weno, Brian Tetley, Ngugi was Thiong’o, John Platter, Joe
Rodrigues, Philip Ochieng … these are some of the people who were the pioneers
of the Nation newspapers in Nairobi, Kenya. There were others but a thinning
memory limits my recall. I really cannot recall many of the pioneers of Taifa (Leo)
except the illustrious Hezekiah Wepekhulu. Many of these illustrious fashioned
me as a journalist but Joe Kadhi, Philip Ochieng and Hilary Ng’weno were my
inspiration as were Joe Rodrigues and Boaz Omori who continue to mourn and
remember them in my prayers.
I have to add another name to my
prayer list: Joe Kadhi who passed away in Nairobi on Thursday.
As the Nation’s “biographer” Gerry
Loughran says, “Kadhi was the smoothest of operators, the original
people-pleaser, but a great guy to work with, a problem-solver who seemed to
see both sides.”
Kadhi was born somewhere down the Kenyan coast,
probably with a cheeky smile/grin, you know, one of those “I know something you
don’t”. No matter what the situation, Joe Kadhi was permanently happy, or at
least, that is the impression he gave everyone. He began life as a journalist
at the Nation but was soon writing what became his famous “Why” column and he
posed the questions everyone was asking about politics, politicians, laws or
the lack of them, issues facing the slums, the poor, the downtrodden, men and
some women who were raping the country and filling their own pocks, more often
than not illegally. In the softest way possible, he challenged the young
politicians.
Joe’s soulmate was another Joe, Rodrigues, the
Editor-in-Chief. Their association would also spell the end of their
association with the Nation. In 1981, the Nation questioned the ruling party’s
wisdom in banning opposition leader Oginga Odinga in the Bondo by-election. Rodrigues
was arrested and later published an apology.
The nail was hammered into Rodrigues’ future
when subeditor Philip Ochieng added the word “anonymous” in a Kenya African
National Union statement. President Daniel arap Moi took exception to that suggesting
that the Nation had referred to him as anonymous.
Later that day, Joe Kadhi (Managing editor
Nation), John Esibi (acting News Editor), Joe Rodrigues, Philip Ochieng and
reporters Gideon Mulaki and Pius Nyamora were arrested.
In “Why?” column Kadhi denounced the Libyan-funded
newspaper The Voice of Africa for claiming the bomb which destroyed the iconic Norfolk
Hotel was planted by Israel, Some folk felt that Kadhi denigrated Arabs in Kenya
and complaints were sent to the Aga Khan. Rodrigues resigned.
While at the Nation, Kadhi obtained a degree in
journalism from the University of Nairobi. He retired from the Nation and 1991
and taught journalism and in the process won many awards for his work. He was
often referred to as “The Legend” by his current and former pupils.
The two Joes represented everything that was
good about honest journalism. Sadly, they lived in the wrong country. Anywhere
else, outside of Africa, and especially in the western world they would have
been lauded and honoured for talents, their skills and sheer brilliance in the
performance of pursuing the truth in making their readers free.
He was a much loved, admired, brilliant media of generations of Kenyan media folk.
As a uni lecture and a media trainer, Joe Kadhi fashioned generations of young Kenyans for the media industry. They loved him and loved him more.
Kadhi, who was hailed by many as the nation's "godfather of print media," had a distinguished media career and taught journalism at the Universities of Nairobi and Addis Ababa before heading to the United States International University- Africa (USIU), where he retired after a 20-year stint.
He was a distinguished media trainer and a seasoned editor who won a lifetime achievement award at the 2015 Media Council's Annual Journalism Excellence Awards besides chairing the editorial board of the Media Observer magazine.
He was also a multi-award winner and perhaps one of the most respected Kenyan journalists. He was everybody's favourite person and teacher. Sleep well rafiki. (Standard)
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