What was launched with pride as a media training ground for young talent in Ukambani has now become a hotbed of scandals, spiritual warfare, and bitter online rivalries.
The barely one-year-old Kamba FM station, originally established to nurture fresh voices in audio-visual content creation, is now at the center of an escalating storm that has left listeners disillusioned, fans divided, and the credibility of the station in tatters.
In recent times, the station has become more known for its chaos than its content. Presenters, most of whom lack formal journalism training, have turned the platform into a public battleground, engaging in bitter online exchanges, petty fights, coded insults, and character assassinations. The feuds, often played out on Facebook and TikTok Lives, have dragged the station’s reputation into dangerous territory.
But nothing prepared the public for the shocking revelation dropped this week by popular presenter Katumbi. In a viral post on her social media, she claimed that her former co-host, identified as “Bratha,” had once suggested they visit witch doctors to stay relevant and ahead of their peers in the competitive media space.
“Everything changed when Bratha suggested we visit witch doctors. He believed that in order to stay relevant and ahead in the game, we needed something more—something spiritual, something mystical,” Katumbi wrote. “I had always believed in hard work, authenticity, and staying true to who I am. As you all know, Katumbi hujituma sana and I don’t need that to stay relevant.”
She went on to explain how her refusal to go along with the idea marked the beginning of the end of their professional partnership. “When I refused to go with him, the bond between us broke. He saw it as betrayal. He accused me of not being committed, of not wanting our success bad enough. I, on the other hand, saw it as a line I could never cross,” she wrote.
According to Katumbi, the fallout destroyed their working relationship, led to tension within the station, and eventually grew into open hostility. “Sometimes I wonder what could have happened if I had just followed along. Maybe we would have stayed in the spotlight longer. But I also know that I would have lost a part of myself in the process. Integrity isn’t something I’m willing to trade—not even for fame. Ndi tumwana tuu twa band utwaa kiw’uni mukose mavinya.”
The revelation has only deepened the cracks already visible in the station’s foundation. Fans and followers, especially among the youth, are now openly calling on the station’s management to take action. Many have questioned how an institution meant to instill media values and practical experience has become a free-for-all arena for clout-chasing, witchcraft whispers, and ego wars.
On social media, the backlash is growing louder. “How can you be a media training ground and your presenters are acting like spiritual gladiators on TikTok?” one post read. Another fan wrote, “Dear management, you owe us more than silence. Reign in your staff before the station becomes a total joke.”
Despite the mounting pressure, the management of the station has remained silent, raising questions about who is really in control. Meanwhile, two local advertisers are said to have pulled out in recent weeks, citing “unprofessionalism and reputational risk.”
The dream of building a credible, professional, and community-rooted broadcast space in Ukambani now stands on shaky ground. As the station trends daily for the wrong reasons, what was meant to be a media incubator has instead become a cautionary tale—a chaotic classroom where clout is king, credibility is dead, and fame is flirted with at any cost.
