The late NTV journalist Rita Tinina's closely-knit friendship of five individuals has revealed her pivotal role in getting the group together.
While eulogising the late journalist during a memorial service at Holy Family Basilica Church on Monday, the friends noted that they met 20 years ago and formed dependable bonds.
They further revealed that Tinina took the lead role in ensuring that the group stayed strong together and initially christened it Strong Pillars.
"Myself Loice, Dorcas Njeri best known as 244, Judy Karkeni known as Judy Wetu, and Jane Nyaga JN. These are the names that Rita gave us. She encouraged openness, increased attentiveness to despair, which battles to undertake and what to walk away from, she denounced drama and shenanigans," eulogised one of the friends.
"We met Rita right about 20 years ago. A bond formed of pure sisterhood love. Over the years, this sisterhood blossomed to include our families."
As the friendship grew stronger, Tinina introduced the name pallbearers in which the group members promised to stand with the family of a member of the group in case they passed away.
"RT had to find a name for all of us and according to her, she was looking for a word that could be a beacon for what we stood for. She came up with strong pillars which meant we should be strong through thick and thin," she added.
"She then introduced (the name) pallbearers with the notion that when one of us passes on, we should bear the burden of walking with them to the final resting place. Unfortunately, we never expected the pallbearer part to be executed anytime but here we are," she eulogised.
Tinina was found dead in her house on Sunday, March 17, after she failed to report to her workplace along Kimathi Street in Nairobi's Central Business District.
An autopsy later conducted on her body at Umash Funeral Home revealed that the cause of her death was acute pneumonia.
Earlier, a police report filed by Rita’s Sister at Kileleshwa Police Station stated that the late journalist struggled with a severe fever 5 days leading to her death.
Robert Nagila, Tinina's partner, revealed that he was heartbroken with her loss but would hold on to memories they created together.
