Remembering Journalists Who Passed on in 2020

Renowned author and journalist Ken Walibora. He passed away on Friday April 10, 2020.
Renowned author and journalist Ken Walibora. He passed away on Friday, April 10, 2020.
File

The media industry in Kenya, like many other sectors, has been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic that worsened an already struggling economy. Hundreds of media professionals have lost their jobs while some have lost their lives and colleagues.   

Road carnage was among the leading causes of deaths in 2020. We pay tribute to the fallen heroes of the fourth estate who died in 2020;

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A lorry that was involved in an accident with KBC journalist Beatrice Kevogo's saloon car on Tuesday, December 15, 2020
KBC

Ken Walibora

The country mourned Ken Walibora, a journalist, author and lecturer who worked for decades with the Nation Media Group after he was hit and killed by a matatu on Landhies Road in downtown Nairobi.

Walibora was rushed to Kenyatta National Hospital but succumbed to injuries later on largely due to lack of Intensive Care Unit beds at the referral hospital.

It did not help that the veteran journalist did not have any identification document on him at the time of the accident making it impossible for doctors to reach out to his next of kin for directions.  

President Uhuru Kenyatta, his deputy William Ruto, Raila Odinga were among notable leaders who sent condolence messages to Walibora's family and friends.

The prolific author with about 40 book titles under his belt had also worked at the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) as a Swahili radio news anchor, news editor and translator.

Ken Walibora's coffin during his burial service on Wednesday, April 22, 2020 at his Huruma village, Cherangany Constituency in Trans-Nzoia County
Ken Walibora's coffin during his burial service on Wednesday, April 22, 2020, at his Huruma village, Cherangany Constituency in Trans-Nzoia County
File

Beatrice Kevogo

Beatrice Kevogo, a veteran KBC journalist passed away on Monday, December 14, after being involved in a road accident in Migori County.

The journalist, who has mentored many in the industry, died after a head-on collision between her car and a truck outside Rongo town.

According to the family, Kevogo was travelling to Migori to pick her mother who was to be taken to Kitale County for the December Holidays. 

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Veteran religious programmes producer at KBC radio Beatrice Kevogo who passed away on Tuesday, December 15, 2020
KBC

Edwin Audi

Standard Group in September mourned the death of KTN News director Edwin Audi that occurred along Kajiado-Namanga road and involved three vehicles, two lorries and a Toyota Probox.

The grisly accident occurred at around 6:30 p.m. near Maili Saba. Reports indicate that the Probox was attempting to overtake a lorry when it rammed an oncoming truck loaded with timber.

Audi passed away aged 42 years with colleagues describing him as the most talented and thorough news director, describing his work ethos as top-notch and meticulous.

Deceased KTN News Director Edwin Audi
Deceased KTN News Director Edwin Audi
Facebook

George Kori

Despite not being known to many, Kori’s death was one of the most tragic in the media industry during the year.

The Molo-based K24 journalist was found dead at their farm on Sunday after going missing for five days in what is believed to be a case of suicide.

According to sources close to the journalist, Kori had been undergoing a difficult time with his family with some associates saying he was battling depression.

K24 Journalist George Kori. He took his life on May 24, 2020.
K24 Journalist George Kori. He took his life on May 24, 2020.
Facebook

Dan Otieno

Dan Otieno, a former Nation Media Group (NMG) editor died in November, in a hit and run accident along Waiyaki Way in Nairobi.

The driver is said to have sped off, leaving Otieno's body on the road as reported by the Nation.

Otieno was a former bureau chief at Kisumu and Nyeri before he left the company to work as a media consultant and a public relations practitioner.

Mohinder Dhillon

The Standard also mourned veteran photojournalist Sir Mohinder Dhillon who passed on in March at the age of 88 in Nairobi.

The celebrated journalist died at the Aga Khan University Hospital, after being hospitalized for a week with a bout of pneumonia.

Dhillon moved to Kenya from rural Punjab with his family in 1947 at the age of 17. He worked for East African Standard before he established his own company, Afripix in 1961.

File image of Sir Mohinder Dhillon
File image of Sir Mohinder Dhillon
Daily Nation

 

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