BENARD OTIENO
| DATE OF BIRTH | N/A |
| GENDER | Male |
| OCCUPATION | Sports Journalist |
| FAMILY | Married, 3 children |
Bernard Otieno is a veteran sports journalist, sports analyst, and seasoned football commentator whose voice has dominated Kenya’s football airwaves for more than two decades.
His command of the English language and ability to make football commentary both lively and insightful have made his name a household name among football fanatics in Kenya.
He is best known for commentating on the Kenyan Premier League as well as major football tournaments beyond Kenya, including the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), CECAFA competitions, and the CAF Champions League. Currently, he is part of the CAF commentators in the African Nations Championship (CHAN) tournament.
Bernard Otieno Career
Although Otieno is best known for his football commentaries, his commentary career has also extended to other sports, including athletics.
He made history by becoming the first and only Kenyan to commentate at the FIFA World Cup, covering the tournaments in 1998 (France) and 2010 (South Africa).
In a past interview, Otieno revealed that his football commentary journey began in 1989, when he presented a show dubbed the Sports Diary on KBC. His breakthrough in commentary came later that year during the East and Central Africa Championship (Cecafa Cup) in Mombasa.
Following his stellar performance in the 1989 Cecafa Cup, he began receiving more opportunities, including being selected in 1997 to commentate during the World Athletics Championships in Athens, Greece.
In 2008, he also provided commentary during the Beijing Olympic Games, which included Jamaican great Usain Bolt’s world-record-breaking 100 metres sprint.
Throughout his career, Otieno has worked with several notable media houses, including the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC), where he began his career, and Nation Media NMG, where he worked at Nation FM.
He has also worked at Standard Media Group, appearing as a sports analyst on KTN’s Scoreboard show.
Education Background
Benard Otieno served as a lead commentator for SuperSport East Africa on multiple occasions.
In terms of educational background, Otieno is currently pursuing a PhD in Communication and Media Studies at the University of Nairobi.
He also holds a Master’s Degree from the University of Nairobi and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communication and Media Studies from Daystar University. He attended Parklands Boys’ High School for his secondary education.
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