President Ruto Honours Journalist Rita Tinina with Heartfelt Eulogy

President William Ruto today paid tribute to the exceptional life and career of NTV journalist Rita Tinina during her funeral service.

Speaking through his Press Secretary Emmanuel Tallam, the president lauded Tinina’s passion for her craft and her tireless commitment to excellence. President Ruto acknowledges the rarity of achieving true greatness in any profession, yet he notes that Tinina had accomplished just that. For her, journalism was more than a mere occupation; she approached it with diligence, thoroughness, and an unparalleled dedication to telling stories that resonated with audiences far beyond individual experiences.

Ruto praises Tinina’s ability to delve into the profound impact of policies on people’s lives, describing her as a master narrator and a storyteller of the highest calibre. The president commends Tinina’s relentless pursuit of producing impactful stories, expressing his belief that her work inspires young women aspiring for a career in journalism. He emphasizes that her legacy would continue to inspire future generations of journalists to strive for excellence and to craft narratives that truly resonate with their audiences.

As the nation mourns the untimely loss of this exceptional journalist, President Ruto offers words of solace to Tinina’s family, drawing from the wisdom of the Psalms, which speak of divine comfort for those who grieve and are brokenhearted. On the fateful morning of Sunday, March 17, Rita Tinina passed away peacefully in her sleep. According to police reports, her housegirl discovered her lifeless body in her room after she failed to wake up and report for duty as an Output Producer at NTV, where she was scheduled to work on producing the 1 pm news bulletin.

Concerned by her absence, her colleagues dispatched a coworker to her residence, where the tragic discovery was made. The housegirl informed authorities that she had awakened as usual and begun her daily tasks, only to realize that Tinina, who was expected to wake at 8 am to prepare for her shift had not woken by 9 am. Despite knocking on her bedroom door, there was no response, prompting the housegirl to alert the authorities.

The sombre atmosphere of the funeral service for the late journalist was punctuated by a poignant tribute delivered by Kenya Editors Guild Zubeida Kananu. Her words, laced with emotion and sadness, evoked a collective outpouring of grief from those in attendance. Zubeida, visibly moved by the loss of her esteemed colleague and dear friend, struggled to maintain her composure as she stood before the gathering, adorned in a pristine white gown and a vibrant red Maasai shuka – a sentimental keepsake acquired during her final assignment with Tinina.