Louis Otieno: Precipitating a Come-Back?

Louis Otieno

Legend is told of a great bird that roamed the ancient skies once. A bird known to have had the mystical ability to spit fire. This bird lived to be 500 years, then went up in flames, almost gloriously. Its carcass, consumed by an intense and violent firestorm that left ashes in its wake. Strangely though, from the ashes, the bird came to life: It rose, flapping its heavy and powerful wings as it flew into the skies with similar or greater force.

According to the legend, every five centuries, the bird would die, then rise up from the ashes. Thus, the Legend of the Phoenix.

Louis Otieno speaking on politics and governance on KTN

Louis Armstrong Otieno, just like the Phoenix, has risen up from where life knocked him down. This is the story of the rise and fall and rise of Louis Otieno; a story with a happy ending.

The former TV personality, is a proud father of two with a dedicated wife who would go to lengths to stand by her family, as I will later substantiate. 

Before life handed him the proverbial lemon (that he turned into lemonade), Louis, had a stellar media career that saw him host prime shows and anchor news bulletins on local television stations; K24, KTN, KBC, Citizen TV.

Louis, was this well-spoken gentleman in whom we were pleased. He was gentle and maintained great intellectual acuity during his captivating interviews that brought his shows millions of views. 

He soundly interrogated a wide range of topics that were pertinent to every Kenyan. Thoroughly dissecting politics, economy and social policy matters like it was coded in his DNA. 

Up until 2012, ‘Louis Otieno Live’, ‘Newsline’, ‘This is Louis’ were a must watch, these shows queried the plight of democracy, resource utilization and accountability by providing a platform for engaging politicians and the populous as a whole.

That was Louis, then. Fast-forward to the present, the picture looks somewhat different. Louis is a man who has fought off a bruising court battle in a protracted murder trial that has severely taken a toll on his health, wealth and reputation. 

The charming newscaster suddenly became the embattled man behind the dock of dishonor. Accusation upon accusation being leveled against him over the death of Careen Chepchumba, a lady friend he had grown fond of.

It is also around that time that alcoholism threatened his health: Louis had been diagnosed with an acute case of pancreatitis that left the journalist deaf and was now in need of a cochlear implant, a procedure costing between Ksh. 4 - 3 million. 

Louis speaks to Dr. Mercy Korir on his struggle

Due to the high cost of procuring the implant and undergoing the surgery that would see him regain his hearing, Louis’ family, besides taking huge loans, turned to Kenyans to raise funds for his treatment.

For the next two and a half years, the celebrated journalist would live a silent life, he could not perceive sounds. He read lips and depended on written notes to communicate.

While he endured the silence, lousy bloggers kept blogging about how ‘fat and old and sick’ he had become. Talk about kicking a man when he is down. 

Despite his difficult situation in life, blogs read: ‘Louis Otieno hits rock bottom’, ‘Celebs going through a rough patch’, ‘Former TV presenter Louis Otieno goes deaf’, ‘From highest paid anchor to being broke and deaf’ and obviously less creative blogs ran with ‘The rise and fall of Louis Otieno.’

I maintain that it is mean and cheap to capitalize on any person’s misfortune – no matter the circumstance surrounding it. It is simply Schadenfreude!

After life dealt him a low blow, Louis’ family, with the help of other good willed fellows managed to raise the full cost of the surgery and now the suave pressman has regained his hearing and is in better shape.

Louis Otieno is no longer a pale shadow of himself, he can engage once more in meaningful conversations. In fact, town gossip has it that Louis’ comeback on KTN is imminent.