By Lilian Katheke

Machakos and Makueni counties on Friday stood still to honour the life and work of the late KTN cameraman Japheth Makau, a journalist remembered for carrying the stories of the people with quiet courage, professional discipline and an unflinching eye for truth.

Family, friends, journalists and political leaders gathered for his burial in a ceremony at his Kea Village home within Malili area in Makueni County.

The burial ceremony underscored not only the personal loss to his family, but also the professional vacuum left in the media landscape, particularly his focus on agriculture.
Governor Wavinya Ndeti condolence message read at the ceremony by her Finance Minister Catherine Mutanu, eulogised Makau as a journalist who “was never one to shy away from the truth” and whose work embodied the ideals of public-interest journalism.
“Japheth was not just a correspondent; he was a storyteller who carried the heartbeat of Machakos and the region to the world,” the Governor said, describing him as a constructive but objective journalist who understood the media’s role in development while remaining faithful to the public.
Her message, rich in references to truth, integrity and the watchdog role of the media, resonated deeply with journalists present — many of whom worked alongside Makau in often difficult and risky assignments across Machakos and the wider region.
The burial was attended by Machakos journalists led by their leader- Daniel Nzia, colleagues from the Standard Group led by Operations Editor Andy Kagwe, and members of the wider media fraternity, including Kenya Editors’ Guild Trustee and The Anchor Editor and Publisher Martin Masai. Also present were Machakos County Finance Executive and Media docket lead Catherine Mutanu, Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr’s Director of Communications Mr. Katua Nzile, friends and relatives.
Makau’s colleagues recalled a cameraman who was always present when news broke — in dusty villages, at political flashpoints, in moments of tragedy and triumph — often without complaint and without seeking the limelight.
Yet as tributes flowed, the Governor’s words on truth and public-interest journalism inevitably invited quiet reflection among journalists on the broader relationship between power and the press during her three-year administration.
Makau’s career unfolded in an era where journalists in Machakos have increasingly found themselves navigating a complex terrain — reporting development while interrogating power, spotlighting governance failures while resisting pressure, and defending public interest journalism in an environment that is not always welcoming to scrutiny.
In death, Makau became a rare unifying figure — a reminder of the ideals the profession strives for and the standards it must continue to defend.
“He believed journalism should serve the common citizen,” Governor Ndeti said, adding that Makau’s work helped bridge the gap between government and the people.
For many in attendance, that statement captured both the aspiration and the unresolved tension at the heart of local governance and media relations: the need for a press that informs, questions and holds power accountable — not merely one that amplifies official narratives.
As Makau was laid to rest, the ceremony closed with a biblical reflection cited by Wavinya from 2 Timothy 4:7 — “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” — words that fittingly summed up a career spent behind the lens, faithfully documenting the lives and struggles of others.
Japheth Makau leaves behind a grieving family, a profession poorer in his absence, and a legacy that now challenges both journalists and leaders alike to live up to the ideals so eloquently spoken over his grave.
In honouring him, Machakos was reminded that truth, once spoken, continues to demand consistency — in word, in action, and in governance.

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