| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Real Name | Paul Kimani Kaberia |
| Popularly Known As | Diblo Kaberia / “El Mago” |
| Gender | Male |
| Year of Birth | 1972 |
| Age at Death | Around 54 years |
| Nationality | Kenyan |
| Base City | Nairobi, Kenya |
| Profession | Sports Journalist, Football Commentator |
| Main Employer | Radio Jambo (Radio Africa Group) |
| Joined Radio Africa | October 2008 |
| Earlier Roles | Footballer, High school coach, Match referee |
| Former Clubs Played | Kieiya Hardrock FC, Mafuko Bombas FC |
| Famous Catchphrases | “Taaaarifa!”, “Mhakiki”, “Mchanganuzi” |
| Favourite Club | FC Barcelona (since 1999) |
| Faith | Born-again Christian |
| Date of Death | Sunday, May 24, 2026 |
| Place of Death | Ruaraka Uhai Neema Hospital, Nairobi |
The early part of Diblo Kaberia biography is rooted firmly in Kenya, where he is born in 1972. His love for football shows itself remarkably early, and reports note that he begins dabbling in commentary while still in primary school, mimicking the game he adores. That childhood fascination with the sport never fades; instead, it grows into the foundation of everything he later becomes. Long before microphones and radio studios, he is simply a young Kenyan boy captivated by the rhythm and drama of football.
Real Name
His real name is Paul Kimani Kaberia, though almost everyone knows him by the affectionate stage name Diblo Kaberia. He also carries the nickname “El Mago,” the title that fans and fellow journalists use most fondly. These names blend the formal and the playful, capturing both the professional and the showman in him.
Nationality and Background
Diblo Kaberia is Kenyan by nationality and builds his life and career largely in Nairobi. His background is unusually hands-on for a broadcaster, because he experiences football from nearly every angle before stepping behind the microphone. That lived experience as a player, coach, and referee gives his voice an authority that few of his peers can match, and it is a key reason fans trust his analysis so deeply.
Age
Diblo Kaberia is born in 1972, which places his age at around 54 years at the time of his death in May 2026. While some profiles list slightly different birth details, the 1972 birth year appears consistently across reliable reports. His age reflects a man who gives more than three decades of his life to football in one form or another.
Educational and Football Foundation
Specific details about Diblo Kaberia’s formal schooling are not part of the public record. What stands out instead is his practical football education on the pitch and the touchline. He plays for local sides including Kieiya Hardrock FC and Mafuko Bombas FC, gaining a real feel for the game from a player’s perspective. He then spends close to ten years coaching high school football and also qualifies as a match referee. This unique grounding shapes the depth and authenticity that later define his commentary.
Career
The career section of Diblo Kaberia biography is where his legacy truly shines. After his years as a player, coach, and referee, he transitions into broadcasting and officially joins the Radio Africa Group in October 2008. At Radio Jambo, he quickly rises to become one of East Africa’s most recognisable sports voices, celebrated for his lively personality, comedic self-praise, and passionate delivery.
He famously pairs with fellow commentator Fred Arocho to form one of the most listened-to sports commentary duos in the region. Together with colleagues such as Peter Kirumba, Yusuf Kaona, and Diamond Okusimba, they build a commentary team that fans tune into religiously. Across the years, he brings the Kenyan Premier League, the English Premier League, and the UEFA Champions League to life in vivid, captivating Swahili, making distant stadiums feel close to home.
His signature catchphrases, including “Taaaarifa!”, “Mhakiki,” and “Mchanganuzi,” become woven into Kenyan football culture. Listeners often joke about his fondness for an obscure Guatemalan team, Malacateco, a quirk that only adds to his charm and entertainment value. Beyond the microphone, he remains active in the sports community as a member of SJAK FC, the football side of the Sports Journalists Association of Kenya, where colleagues remember him as a dependable teammate.
His influence stretches further than his own broadcasts. He mentors upcoming sports journalists and helps shape sports coverage across both vernacular and mainstream radio. The Football Kenya Federation, the National Olympic Committee of Kenya, and SJAK all describe him as a key figure who gives athletes and sporting institutions a platform to shine. For a generation of fans who grew up pressing their ears to radio sets on weekend afternoons, he is more than a commentator; he is football itself.
Family
Diblo Kaberia is a family man who keeps his private life relatively low-key. Reports confirm that he is survived by a son and a daughter, and that he is a devoted born-again Christian. He is also remembered as a passionate supporter of FC Barcelona, a loyalty he holds since 1999. Beyond these confirmed details, he shields most of his personal family information from the public eye, and this profile respects that privacy rather than speculating.
Cause of Death
Diblo Kaberia passes away on the morning of Sunday, May 24, 2026, at Ruaraka Uhai Neema Hospital in Nairobi. His longtime colleague Fred Arocho is the first to confirm the sad news publicly. Reports indicate that he battles a debilitating illness for several months before his death, and fellow journalists even launch a fundraising campaign to help cover his medical expenses. Just three days before his passing, he shares a heartfelt message asking fans for their prayers. The specific medical condition behind his death is not officially disclosed, so this profile reports only what is confirmed: that he dies after a prolonged illness.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who is Diblo Kaberia?
He is a celebrated Kenyan sports journalist and football commentator best known for his nearly two-decade career at Radio Jambo.
2. What is Diblo Kaberia’s real name?
His real name is Paul Kimani Kaberia.
3. What does the nickname “El Mago” mean?
It is a Spanish term meaning “The Magician” or “The Wizard.”
4. When was Diblo Kaberia born?
He was born in 1972 in Kenya.
5. How old was Diblo Kaberia when he died?
He was around 54 years old.
6. When did he join Radio Jambo?
He officially joined the Radio Africa Group in October 2008.
7. What did he do before broadcasting?
He was a footballer, a high school coach for nearly ten years, and a qualified match referee.
8. Who was his famous commentary partner?
He formed a popular duo with fellow commentator Fred Arocho.
9. What were his famous catchphrases?
He was known for “Taaaarifa!”, “Mhakiki,” and “Mchanganuzi.”
10. Which football club did he support?
He was a passionate FC Barcelona fan from 1999.
11. Did Diblo Kaberia have a family?
Yes, he is survived by a son and a daughter.
12. When and where did he die?
He died on Sunday, May 24, 2026, at Ruaraka Uhai Neema Hospital in Nairobi.
13. What was his cause of death?
He died after battling an illness for several months; the exact medical cause was not officially disclosed.
The life captured in this Diblo Kaberia biography is one of passion, authenticity, and genuine service to Kenyan football. From a primary school boy imitating commentary to a national icon whose voice defined weekend matches for millions, Paul Kimani Kaberia builds a legacy that few can rival. His blend of playing, coaching, refereeing, and broadcasting gives him a rare depth that listeners cherish to the very end. Though his microphone now falls silent, the warmth, humour, and brilliance of “El Mago” continue to echo across Kenya’s airwaves and in the hearts of the fans who loved him.