She was professional and loved her job
Kasavuli was a consummate professional, a stickler for doing things the right way, something that was acknowledged by a lot of people in their tributes. However, even in smaller details, her professionalism was evident. For instance, KBC Managing Director Samuel Maina said that she always went to work on time.
In one incident, a light fixture in the newsroom fell on her head while she was reading the news. She was flustered but then continued despite the scary incident.
"There are things that we have been through that if you did not love broadcasting, sincerely, I don't think you'd still be there," she said in an interview.
In the same article on Kenya Journalism Review where she talked about humility, she also told aspiring anchors, "Be ready to burn the midnight oil and not look like you have been through a hurricane especially on those long nights during elections or breaking news."
Leading by example, she also expected others around her to be professional as well. Media and communications personality Alen Wekesa wrote about how she one day prevailed upon him, with love as always, to take his job seriously.
"Once, she came down on me for coming to work late. There was a World Cup Cricket tournament that was going on that KTN was sponsoring. The feed had been pathetic the whole week. 3 days in, I was exhausted trying to understand cricket as I re-edited the feed for broadcast. A few bottles at Visions later that night caused trouble for me with Kasav the next day," he wrote on safirisalama.com, Kasavuli's memorial website where her friends including Jimmi Gathu, Alen Wekesa and Pauline Sheghu penned tributes to her.
"She disciplined me with kindness, but I will never forget how her goddess lips, always lipsticked twirled in anger, her eye squarely fixed on mine, telling me not to joke with my work. Nilikoma aisee."
She was a nurturer
She mentored many journalists and helped them flourish in their careers, including Jeff Koinange, Michael Oyier and CNN's Zain Verjee. Verjee said that watching Kasavuli on TV made her believe that she would one day be on TV as well.
"Catherine (aka Kasav) encouraged me, and trained me at KTN news when I was only 23 years old on how to read a prompter and operate in the newsroom. Her smile, warmth, beauty and elegance was legendary growing up. I admired her so much. She filled a room with her flair and charisma," wrote Verjee.
Media personality and rally driver Pauline Sheghu also referred to her as a mother.
"You were a mother to me, more than a friend, my confidant, my mentor and my sister. Your advice and encouragement made me who I am today in the media space," wrote Sheghu.
And of course, ultimately, she was a good mother to her only child, Martin Kasavuli, and also mentored him in media. He ended up having his own successful media and communications career in several countries across Africa and is the co-founder of their company, Kasavuli Media Group, and also Spin Digital.
When she was alive, she referred to him as her best friend, something that Martin also confirmed, saying that she was always present when her needed her.
"You always smiled at me. You trusted me. You taught me all about media. You were an amazing mum. I loved you dearly. You were my best friend and you made me what I am," he wrote.