Two of Kenya’s most recognisable broadcast voices found themselves in hot water on Tuesday, September 22, when a lighthearted Kiswahili quiz at Hot 96 did not go quite as planned.
Veteran journalist Jeff Koinange and Immanuel Ndung’u were filmed seated across a broadcast desk, microphones and a soundboard between them, when Immanuel decided to test Jeff’s Kiswahili with a simple question: what is the word for “brown”?
Jeff Koinange vs Immanuel Ndung’u
Jeff’s confident answer was “kahawa tungu,” sending Immanuel into fits of laughter before correcting him with “kahawiwi” — a word that, as Immanuel himself quickly admitted, he was not entirely sure about either.
“Even I don’t know,” he confessed, still laughing.
The exchange did not improve from there.
When Jeff turned the tables and asked Immanuel for the Kiswahili word for “blue,” the presenter answered smoothly with “samawati,” before rattling off “kijani” for green.
Purple, however, was a bridge too far. Jeff attempted an answer, fell short, and Immanuel simply laughed along, offering no correction because he did not know it either.
The clip spread quickly online, with many Kenyans pointing out the irony of two veteran communicators struggling with a language taught in schools across the country since primary level.
The reactions in the comments were swift and merciless:
@mashirima_kapombe:
“Kahawiwi?”
@jamila.mohamed1:
“Kahawiwi? What’s that, jamani?”
@mbogo_kev:
“Swahili has suffered in the hands of these two men.”
@mlami_mwitu:
“I should have been here as a moderator.”
@sheilatayan:
“The collabo we deserve.”
@wanjikustephens_official:
“The collab I never thought I needed. We need more.”
@_.n.d.u.n.g.u_:
“What in God’s green earth is kahawiwi?”
