Former KTN presenter, John Sibi Okumu, has received a Lifetime Achievement Award in an event held in Tunis, the Capital of Tunisia.
Sibi Okumu was honoured at the Carthage Theatre Festival 2021 which was hosted by the government of Tunisia since 1983.
He was for his services to theatre especially for his playwrights including Role Play, Minister Karibu, Meetings, Kaggia, Elements, and Dinner At Her Excellency’s which were compiled into a book.
While receiving the award, the elated Sibi Okumu noted that he spent some time in the North African country getting insights into acting and directing.
“Friends, on Saturday, 4th December I received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 22nd Carthage Theatre Festival (les JTC -Journe’es The’atrales de Carthage) in Tunis.
"I have stayed on to take in an average of two plays a day, albeit some in incomprehensible Arabic, but still enlightening in terms of insights into acting and directing. Plus some discussions. The organisation and welcome to all guests have been “bench-markingly” fabulous!" Stated the media personalities.
The former KTN presenter is known for his towering works in film and in February 2021, made a comeback on TV in the Showmax original series Crime and Justice portraying a character, Barasa, a high-profile lawyer on a campaign trail to become a Member of Parliament.
The role was his first on-screen appearance in eight years having maintained a low profile as he prefers keeping his private life away from the limelight.
As a journalist, he hosted a popular TV program, The Summit aired on Kenya Television Network (KTN), in which he interviewed Kenyan politicians
Between 1997 and 2002 on The Summit, conducting incisive, one-on-one TV interviews with such personalities as former Presidents Daniel Arap Moi, Mwai Kibaki, Robert Mugabe, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, as well as renowned conservationists Richard Leakey and Wangari Maathai.
He was also a quizmaster for a half-hour, inter-university, general knowledge show, Celtel Africa Challenge (later Zain Africa Challenge).
The show, which aired in English-speaking nations across Africa and via direct broadcast satellite on DSTV, featured university teams from eight African nations. The show concluded its broadcast run in 2010.
