NAIROBI – Sammy Lui Wang'ondu, the veteran broadcaster and esteemed State Master of Ceremonies whose resonant voice was the soundtrack to Kenya’s national identity for decades, has died. He passed away at his home in Subukia, Nakuru County, on Thursday, October 23, 2025. His death was confirmed by his son, Chris Wang'ondu, on Thursday afternoon, East Africa Time.

Lui was discovered deceased in a chair at his residence, where he had been living alone, according to neighbours who spoke to media outlets. His body was subsequently moved to the Umash Funeral Home in Nakuru. The cause of death has not yet been publicly confirmed by the family. According to a family statement issued on Friday, October 24, 2025, Lui will be cremated in Nairobi on Monday following a prayer service.

A Defining Voice for the Nation

For generations of Kenyans, Lui’s deep, composed, and eloquent delivery in both English and Swahili was synonymous with major state functions. As the official State Master of Ceremonies, his voice guided the nation through the solemnities and celebrations of Jamhuri, Madaraka, and Mashujaa Days, spanning the presidential administrations of Daniel arap Moi, Mwai Kibaki, and the early years of Uhuru Kenyatta's tenure.

President William Ruto led the nation in mourning, describing Lui in a public statement on Thursday as “a dedicated public servant, a veteran broadcaster, and the respected State Master of Ceremonies.” The President further noted, “From his early days as one of Kenya's pioneer journalists at the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation to his time at the Presidential Press Service, and later, as Director of State Events, his powerful voice was the familiar soundtrack to Kenyans.”

A Pioneer's Journey in Media

Lui's distinguished career began at the state-run Voice of Kenya (VoK), the precursor to the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC), where he became a household name and a standard-bearer for journalistic professionalism. He was part of a pioneering generation of broadcasters who shaped the country's media landscape before the liberalisation of the airwaves.

In the early 1990s, with the advent of private television, Lui joined the Kenya Television Network (KTN), the nation's first privately-owned station, further cementing his legacy. His career transitioned from the news desk to public service when he was appointed to the Office of the President, eventually rising to become the Director of State Events, a role where his meticulous planning and commanding presence came to define presidential functions.

Legacy and Tributes

Colleagues and mentees have universally praised Lui as a mentor who embodied discipline and set an unmatched standard for public communication. Many of today's leading journalists credit him for his guidance on voice training, diction, and professional conduct. Despite his public prominence, he was known as a humble and private individual.

In his later years, Lui faced personal challenges, including a widely reported eviction in November 2024 from his long-term residence in Nairobi's Woodley Estate amid a county urban renewal project. He is survived by his children, including Nick Wang'ondu, who represented Kenya in the reality television show Big Brother Africa in 2011.

As funeral arrangements are finalized, the outpouring of condolences from across the nation underscores the profound impact of a man whose voice was not just heard, but trusted, by millions of Kenyans for over three decades.