New details have emerged regarding the circumstances surrounding the death of NTV journalist Rita Tinina.
A report filed at Kileleshwa Police Station on Sunday, shortly after she was found unconscious in her house, indicated that she suffered from epilepsy.
The report, which quoted the deceased's sister, indicated that until her death, Tinina experienced a severe five-day-old fever.
The report further showed that the first report was made by Helen Silau Njaga, Tinina's sister at around 10:45 am after her body was found unconscious.
She indicated that the journalist, aged 46 years, was found unconscious on her bed inside her bedroom at her Kileleshwa home.
Silau rushed to her home and when she arrived, she found Tinina unresponsive and called for medical assistance. The paramedics confirmed that the body was already lifeless upon arrival.
She was living with her eight-year-old daughter at the time of her passing.
Police transferred the body of the deceased to Umash Funeral Home as investigations into the incident kicked off.
"On behalf of Yiapan's family, this has come as a shock to us. We are really trying to digest and at the moment we just request for the privacy to be accorded to the family. More information will come letter," Silau told the press.
The news of the journalist's death sent the entire media industry countrywide into mourning with a majority of scribes hailing her as a trailblazing figure.
State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohamed recalled an instance in which Tinina helped file a report when his equipment failed during a high-stakes coverage.
"Rita bailed me out once during my time at Citizen TV, helping me file a story when our equipment failed at an EAC Heads of State Summit in Arusha during Kibaki’s presidency," he recalled.
"It was my first interaction with her, as she was already a household name in the media, while I was a rookie at the time. Nonetheless, she displayed grace then, as she always has. My condolences to friends and family."
ICT Cabinet Secretary Eliud Owalo, on the other hand, noted that Tinina's contributions to the profession were immense.
"During this time of mourning, may the loved ones of Tinina find comfort in the knowledge that she made a significant and meaningful contribution to the field of journalism," he stated.
Tinina worked at the Nation Media Group (NMG) before joining KTN News in 2012 where she worked as a senior reporter before returning to NTV in October 2023.
