Radio has been the main source of Information, Education & Entertainment in Africa and many of the under developed and developing world for centuries. Kenya is no exception. For decades Kenyans have idolized their favourite Broadcasters and treated them as special, almost like royalty.

Media personalities have been in most occasions more popular than politicians; I know the later will not agree with this, as might many who read this article, but as a veteran Radio & TV personality, I know this has been the case.

Audiences form an attachment with these celebrities to the extent of relating to them, for instance it is very common to hear a Radio Fan say, “Oh so and so is my distant cousin” etc. The celebrities in turn reciprocate by making personal special appearances at various functions, both commercial and charity, or develop a fan base keeping in touch with their fans, some going as far as responding to the huge fan mail on a regular basis or even accepting invitations to meet up with their fans. This is encouraging but very taxing. However, there are some who feel they are too special to give back to their fans and kind of look down on them, though that is the very few. These are those that fall by the roadside.

Success has its ups and downs like anything in life. Celebs who have survived over the years keeping pace with changing styles and audiences are those that have maintained dignity and respect.This is the clique of celebs who have shared their Talent with the up and coming generation; they have treated their audiences with respect and maintained closeness with their fans without going overboard in their Celeb-Fan relationship, which is in fact a professional relationship. After all it is these masses that give not only the celebs Ratings but also the respective media Intuitions they broadcast for.

Radio & Television, like political parties, has grown from the State owned Voice of Kenya, now Kenya Broadcasting Corporation, to the over 30 or more independent channels Kenyans enjoy today both on Radio and Television. Pioneers of the first fully independent private Station, Kenya Television Network and Capital FM, set the trend and soon the Radio authority started issuing Radio & Television licences for various interested groups that met their criteria and today Kenyans can choose whom to listen to and what to watch.

With the opening up of the ‘Air Waves’, Kenyans also saw the coming of fresh talent, the celeb list started growing and broadcast ethics relaxed to suit everyone. Programmes, Music and News output was now more varied and exciting, not that it was not before but when there is a variety one tends to shuffle the dial at ease.

All in all, this new era of Multi Media Houses created more Radio & Television celebrities, but reduced the Radio & TV fan craze that existed in the earlier days. At the same time Talent was not abundant, as no one had exploited this specialised trade. So what next, desperate Media Houses started hiring and training ‘On the Job’, as a result there was a lapse in quality presentation. As time went by fresh Talent trickled in and some of the Media Houses excelled above the National Broadcaster, Kenya Broadcasting Corporation, which still struggled to shed its old ‘Civil Service’ hangover.

Some legendary celebrities are still very much on the frontline in the industry and the new generation celebs are showing a lot of charisma and have built strong fan bases; so the fan fantasy lives on. On this page we will feature profiles of celebs that have made a mark in the industry. We will also honour and salute the ‘Unsung Talent’ of Radio & Television and keep you up to date with all the gossip around these celebs.

You too as an ardent fan of these celebs can send in your piece for publication on this page to Radio & Television Celebrity email bigq.unlimited@yahoo.co.uk