When the news about Rita Tinina’s death broke, the name Robert Nagila suddenly surfaced after being off local screens for years.
As the journalism profession in Kenya and the nation at large was sent into mourning, it became apparent that Rita’s death could have left an even bigger void in the life of Robert Nagila who was her partner.
Those who knew Rita at a personal level relayed their condolences to her family and even mentioned her partner to introduce a new name for some.
Nagila, who is also a journalist, has kept a low profile in Kenya lately despite his accomplishments both locally and abroad.
At the age of 47, Robert Nagila has made his name as a proven journalist in his stints at NTV and China-based CGTN.
After graduating from the London School of Journalism, Nagila started his career as a TV reporter in the early 2000s with NTV Kenya.
He then joined CCTV in 2012 as a foreign correspondent in 2012 to kickstart what would be an illustrious career as an international journalist specializing in covering various geopolitics.
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Robert Nagila and his journey as a geopolitics reporter
Since then, the ex-NTV reporter has excelled in his role of establishing links between China and the African continent as described in one of his profiles by CGTN.
In his time at CGTN, Nagila worked as one of the network’s Africa correspondents across the continent. He established himself as an astute journalist in his coverage of prominent events including developments in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and the Egyptian revolution.
His portfolio as a geopolitics correspondent also includes the coverage of the Somalia conflict in Mogadishu and Kismayo and the events preceding the referendum and independence in South Sudan.
In addition, Robert Nagila covered the conflict in northern Nigeria where Boko Haram has carried out several attacks.
Besides coverage on wars and regional conflict, Nagila was also in his early days known for his investigative pieces including his coverage of the Goldenberg scandal. His accent, rumbling voice, diction, and uniquely flawless command of his English language has set him apart in the media industry.
Also Read: Rita Tinina Was the Most Stubborn Person I Ever Met- Robert Nagila
Nagila’s tribute to Rita Tinina
When he stepped to the podium to eulogize his deceased lover at the Holy Family Basilica on Monday, March 25- Robert Nagila once again grabbed the headlines after his moving tribute to the woman she described as the “most stubborn” person he ever met.
He expressed his grief of having lost Tinina and described her as woman who had shaped her legacy as a journalist even before her 46th birthday.
“Your beauty, hearty laughter, and warm heart are the things that drew me to you. Your passing has left a void that cannot be filled but I’m comforted by the fact that the memories of times spent will live on,” he noted in his tribute to the late Rita Tinina.
“Today as I stand here before you, I’m broken, we all chase a legacy that we hope to be remembered with, but what is remarkable is Rita established her own legacy and just shy of her 46th birthday.”
