Veteran Journalist Rita Tinina, aged 46, was discovered lifeless in her home on Laikipia Road in Kileleshwa, Nairobi, on the morning of Sunday, March 17, 2024.
Tinina’s absence from her scheduled duties at NTV raised immediate concerns among her colleagues, prompting a visit to her residence.
Her house girl made the grim discovery after finding Tinina unresponsive in her room.
The house girl told police she woke up as usual and went on with her chores but realised Tinina was not awake as earlier planned.
With mounting trepidation, the house girl approached Tinina’s bedroom and gently reached out to her, only to be met with the chilling realization that her employer lay unresponsive.
Faced with the gravity of the situation, she urgently reached out to a family friend who had been in Tinina’s company the previous Saturday night.
The friend, also a journalist, arrived and confirmed she was unresponsive and picked the daughter to keep her away from the scene.
He has told police that he called Tinina’s sister and informed her of the news.
The house girl told police she was aware that the friend was to pick the girl up on Sunday to play with her as earlier planned with Tinina.
The exact cause of Tinina’s death remains under investigation, with initial suspicions pointing towards a possible seizure.
However, authorities are conducting a thorough inquiry to ascertain the circumstances leading to her passing. Colleagues and friends described Tinina as a dedicated, hardworking, and humble journalist who made significant contributions to the media industry during her more than two decades of service.
Kileleshwa Member of County Assembly Robert Alai joined those mourning her demise.
“Rita Tinina was not only a beacon of truth and integrity in journalism but also a cherished member of our Kileleshwa community,” Alai said in a statement.
“Her commitment to factual and in-depth reporting set a benchmark in the media industry, illuminating the issues that matter to our society. Her loss is not just a blow to the Nation Media Group, where she dedicated years of exemplary service, but to the entire country’s media fraternity and beyond.”
He said Tinina’s contributions were immense, and her absence will be deeply felt.
“May we draw strength from her unwavering spirit and dedication to truth. Let us support one another and move forward with the resolve to honour Rita Tinina’s memory by continuing to illuminate the world with integrity and compassion.”
Her employer Nation Media Group issued a statement on the incident.
“It is with deep sadness and heavy hearts that the Nation Media Group announces the death of our colleague and friend, Rita Tinina, who passed away on March 17, 2024, at her house in Kileleshwa, Nairobi.”
“Rita was an adept journalist with over 20 years experience working for top Media Houses in Kenya. Until her demise, Rita was an Output Producer at NTV where she served with great dedication and passion.”
