By KIUNDU WAWERU

It was the era before the FM radio stations, the Internet and pay television. The only radio station was KBC and presenters became legends. One of the unforgettable voices was Nzau Kalulu’s on the Sundowner Show, a voice that has been described as golden.

It was entertaining and smooth at the same time, husky when introducing a love ballad, comforting after a long day’s work. At 6pm, most Kenyans, old and young tuned in to the English Service (GS). And whenever Nzau was on air, he would introduce himself as the Bull that Conquered. In the 90s, the slogan the bull that conquers would have seemed as clever, a gimmick. But today, when Kenya is mourning one of its sons, the words are very telling of his life, for Nzau Kalulu has lived with diabetes for the better part of his life time, before losing both legs.

He was aged 13, thirty-one years today when he was diagnosed with diabetes. To manage this, it means that Nzau had to check what he ate, and made sure he exercised. But this did not stop him from pursuing education, where he attended Kangaru Secondary School for his O-levels and Machakos High School for A Levels. He had a stint working with the Teachers Service Commission, before joining the Kenya Institute of Mass Communication to pursue his life’s passion. He would join KBC in 1994.

As he inspired the nation, besides mentoring now established thespians including Dan Ndambuki aka Churchill, in 1999, Nzau’s life would take a dramatic change. In an earlier TV interview, Nzau said that he was diagnosed with kidney failure. “The diabetes had triggered blood pressure that knocked down the kidney.” His sister donated a kidney and he was transplanted. Nzau would move on with his career and life, marrying and moving on to Royal Media in 2006 where he headed the Musyi FM radio. Jackline Lidubwi, a TV producer at KBC remembers how in 2001, she joined the national broadcaster as an intern. She had studied TV production at KIMC with a friend they called Cheupe, Lisa, who at KBC met and fell in love with Nzau.

“They would later get married,” says Lidubwi, “I remember Nzau as a kind guy. He always told us to focus and put our best foot forward. He was a friend to all.” Nzau said that his illness, which led to the amputation of both his legs after painful operations has made him stronger besides giving him a new perspective in life. Indeed, his wife, Lisa calls him a fighter, and he is on record saying that even after losing his legs, he did not want to be selfish. “I have what I have because I can handle it,” the bull that conquers once said. But it is Benjamin Kiplagat who everybody agrees knows Nzau well besides his wife.  Kiplagat met Nzau, whom he last saw Monday before he died, at Kenya Institute of Mass Communication though he was a year ahead. He trained in Technical Operations and Sounds and got a job with KBC in 1992.

“I had noticed Nzau’s voice, and I wanted to work with him.” It helped that Nzau was interested in continuity announcing and while still in KIMC, he worked as an artist at KBC. He would announce for popular programmes, under Catherine Kasavuli.  Around that time, Kiplagat, today the Technical Specialist at Internews, was developing popular programmes like Saturday Night Show with the likes of Jeff Mwangemi, John Karani and the late Eric Ndeche. Nzau would work with Mick Ndichu for Radio Theatre with Ndichu as head and mentor.

Later in 1994 he got employed at the station. “Later he became the chief producer for Radio Theatre, he turned it around,” says Kiplagat. Together they invented new ways of producing the Sunday night programme, including adding natural sound effects. Nzau would do the same with Sundowner. “People like John Obongo Junior played classics,” says Kiplagat, “but Nzau introduced contemporary music, which attracted more people without losing the old fans. Then there was the voice of course.” Patrick Rukwaro who also worked at KBC then has fond memories. He says Nzau was humble and outgoing at the same time and did not behave as if he came from a prominent family as his father, Fredrick Kalulu is a former Mbooni MP.  Nzau underwent an operation and went into a coma, before passing on on Monday, the Mashujaa Day.