Laban Cliff Onserio is currently working as the Chief of Staff at the Standard Media Group.
The media personality made headlines for the better part of Monday, December 19 after he was arrested in possession of an alleged explosive.
But who is Onserio? Here is his story as told by WoK.
Family
Onserio got married to his longtime girlfriend Laura Damaris in a colorful wedding at Nairobi Primary School in December 2018.
The wedding was attended by the who is who in Kenya’s media industry including news anchors Trevor Ombija and Vicky Rubadiri.
The wedding followed his proposal to her wife while holidaying in Kigali, Rwanda during the 2018 Easter.
Onserio and Laura have three children; two boys and a girl. The little girl, Labella M.N Cliff was born in May this year.
In an update on his socials, the journalist shared a photo of his wife next to their newborn daughter and captioned it;
“This day, unto us a child is born. We have named her Labella M. N. Cliff. The beautiful one… Mama, what a gift you are to us, your twin brothers can’t wait to meet you.”
Media
Onserio first worked at CNBC Africa as a reporter and researcher before he was poached to join Nation Media Group’s NTV.
Two years after joining NTV, he was named the best TV business news reporter by Media Council of Kenya.
Onserio resigned from the NMG-owned media station in August 2018 after landing a new job at State House.
He joined the Presidential Delivery Unit (PDU) during former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s time as the deputy Director of Communications.
In August 2021, Onsario quit PDU where he had served for three years.
He thanked Uhuru as well as some of his mentors for according him the opportunity to serve the public in that capacity.
“My time at the Presidential Delivery Unit has come to an end. This was various teams of 40 professionals who came in from in country and out of the country to join PDU,” he said.
Onserio went ahead to join Standard Media Group as the Chief of Staff.
An internal memo by the Standard showed that Onserio will also serve as an anchor at KTN where he will major in business and policy programs.
He was also tasked with aiding in administrative roles, communication, government relations and strengthening shareholder partnerships.
Safari Rally
The media personality launched his rally career in 2018.
Onserio revealed the same in his farewell message while leaving NTV to join PDU.
“2018 will definitely be one to remember as I mark exactly 5 years in media, launch my motorsport career as a rally driver and as I marry the love of my life, Laura. I thank God for the gift of health in my 30 years on earth and pray for more,” he said.
He participated in the 2021 WRC Safari Rally competitions in Kenya where he was co-driver to Rio Smith in a Ford Fiesta Car.
In an update on Twitter, the media personality stated that being part of the rally was a dream come true for him.
“A Dream Come true! Proud Co Driver to Rio Smith in a Ford Fiesta Car No. 67 in the,” Onserio stated.
Arrest
On Sunday, December 18, Onserio was arrested after being found in possession of an alleged hand grenade.
The media personality was arrested at the Holy Family Basilica basement by detectives from the Anti-Terror Police Unit (ATPU).
He was taken in after allegedly threatening to use the explosive device to attack the church’s security guards.
“He was arrested on 18/12/2022 by a multi-agency team who responded at the scene after receiving information through IC3 police control room that there was a terror threat at Holy Family Basilica,” reads court documents.
At the time of the arrest, Onserio could not give satisfactory reasons why he was in possession of the flash bang grenade nor produce a certificate allowing him to be in possession of the device.
