Veteran journalist Rita Tinina is dead. According to reports, Tinina was found dead in her house in Kileleshwa estate, Nairobi on Sunday, March 17, 2024.
Reports indicate that Tinina was scheduled to produce a news bulletin on NTV at 1PM but failed to report to work.
This prompted the station’s management to visit her house where her body was found.
The police said the cause of the death was yet to be known. Her family was present as police arrived to pick up the body to the mortuary pending autopsy.
NTV Confirms Death
In a statement sent to Nation Media Group’s (NMG) staff members, NMG Editor-In-Chief Joe Ageyo stated that Tinina was fine on the previous day before she was found dead on Sunday morning.
“Team, this morning we received the sad news that our colleague Rita Tinina had passed away in her house. She was expected to be in the office today but did not show up,” the statement read.
“The information we have so far is that she was fine all of yesterday but unfortunately, was found unresponsive this morning.”
Ageyo requested the NMG staff to be calm adding that the company was waiting for more information regarding the Rita’s demise.
“The family has requested privacy at this difficult time. This is indeed a tragic development and I request us to be calm as we await more information,” Ageyo said.
She was a news editor at NTV and a mother of one girl.
Journalists Mourn Rita Tinina
Journalists from different media houses took to social media to mourn Tinina’s death.
Former KTN news anchor Lindah Oguttu mourned Tinina recalling how she helped her during their days at NTV.
“I am who I am because I stood on her shoulders while at NTV. My T9. Go well my darling. Rita Tinina, the hand that held mine and never let go. I am broken,” wrote Oguttu.
Citizen TV’s journalist Mike Okinyi also sent his condolences to Tinina’s family and the media industry. Okinyi said he worked with Tinina during his days at NTV.
“To the NMG family and the Media fraternity, poleni for the loss of Rita Tinina. Worked with her at NTV Many moons ago. This is shocking,” he said.
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Africa Uncensored founder and former KTN investigative journalist John-Allan Namu also posted his condolence message on X stating “Rest in peace RT. This one hurt.”
Ken Aseka, the Editor-in-Chief at The Kenya Times on his part recalled his experience working with Tinina at KTN news.
Aseka opined that the late was a rare version of a journalist with good scripting skills.
“Heartbreaking. Rita Tinina was a rare breed in the newsroom. Roho safi. I had a chance to work with her at KTN News. I loved her scripting. Flawless. Fare thee well,” wrote Aseka in reaction to the news about Tinina’s death.
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Political Leaders Condolences
Azimio leader Raila Odinga’s former aide Silas Jakakimba mourned Tinina explaining how she had a near-inborn journalistic depth and experience.
This, Jakakimba said, made it easy for Tinina to transform her reportage into a story package.
He recalled how she first met Tinina when she covered the campaigns led by Raila and President William Ruto during the 2007 general election.
“So sorry for her sudden loss and pole sana to her Family, Colleagues, Relatives, Friends and the Kenyan media fraternity during this tough times. May Rita’s Soul find Rest in The Lord,” Jakakimba wrote.
Homabay Governor Gladys Wanga, on her part, took to her X account to mourn the journalist’s demise stating “Really sad news on Rita Tinina’s passing. My deepest condolences to her family. Rest well Rita.”
Tinina’s Media Career
Tinina made a return to NMG in October 2023 after leaving the Standard Media Group Limited where she was a senior reporter at KTN News.
Tinina, formerly a senior reporter at KTN, had previously held the same position at NTV.
As per her LinkedIn profile, Tinina joined Standard Group in December 2002.
She held a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communication/Media Studies from the University of Nairobi (UoN).
