LEGENDS REST

Veteran news anchor, Catherine Kasavuli, breathed her last on the night of  December 29, 2022 after battling cervical cancer. The renowned journalist was receiving treatment at the Kenyatta National Hospital.

The unfortunate news was confirmed by the Managing Director of Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) , Samuel Maina.

"It is true. She passed on yesterday night. It is related to the cancer ailment that she's been bravely fighting in the recent past." said Samuel Maina via a phone call.

In November 2022, people were mobilised to donate blood for urgent transfusion after the veteran news presenter was admitted at the Kenyatta National Hospital in late October, battling cervical cancer.

Cervical cancer is a type of cancer that occurs in the cells of the cervix, the lower part of the uterus that connects to the vagina. Cervical cancer affects the neck of the womb and it is ranked the fourth most frequently diagnosed cancer and leading cause of cancer death in women. But the good thing, it is a preventable disease.

Catherine Kasavuli was born and raised in Nairobi West and attended Ngara Girls High School.

Her journey in the media began in 1980 as a radio continuity announcer at the Voice of Kenya, which is the now KBC and has always been known as the TV Queen till her demise. Her legacy will still live since she has played a significant role in the Kenyan media industry.

From the start of her career to 2015, Catherine Kasavuli graced Kenya's leading television stations including: KBC, KTN and Citizen. She is credited with breaking the glass ceiling for female TV journalists in the country.

Catherine then returned to the screens in 2021, eight years after leaving televison,  where she hosted a Legends Edition on Kenya Broadcasting Corporation, KBC.

In a post she shared on November 14 via her Instagram page, she shared some of the lessons she has learnt the last couple of months. 

Her major lesson being; that family is all one has at the end of the day, and that one should make peace with them by trying to be in good books with them, even if one feels otherwise.

I echo her sentiments. Family is all you got ultimately.

Catherine Kasavuli is survived by her son, Martin Kasavuli, who has always stood by her till her last days.

In other news...

Edson Arantes do Nascimento, known mononymously as Pele, also took his last bow on Thursday November 29 at the Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paulo. The Brazillian football legend, who played as a forward, died at the age of 82 following a battle with cancer. Reactions have been poured to remember the only player to have won the World Cup three times.

Pele became an icon of the game after winning the World Cup in 1958 as a 17-year-old, and later winning World Cup again in 1962 and 1970 with Brazil.

Pele scored 1,281 goals in 1,363 games for club and country during his career and ended his playing days at New York Cosmos where he retired from football in 1977.

Neymar, Brazil's join-highest scorer in men's international football alongside Pele, shared an emotional tribute to his idol following his passing.

"He's gone but his magic remains. Pele is forever," Neymar wrote on Instagram.

A message from Pele's official Twitter account on Thursday read: "Inspiration and love marked the journey of King Pelé, who peacefully passed away today. Love, love and love, forever."

The government of President Jair Bolsonaro declared three days of mourning and said in a statement that Pele was "a great citizen and patriot, raising the name of Brazil wherever he went."

Pele had been undergoing chemotherapy since he had a tumor removed from his colon in September 2021.

May the souls of the two departed legends Rest In Eternal Peace...🕊🕊🕊🙏