Autopsy Reveals Cause Of NTV's Rita Tinina's Death

The late NTV journalist Rita Tinina had succumbed to acute pneumonia, according to an autopsy conducted on her body on Tuesday, March 19.

The autopsy was conducted by pathologists at Umash Funeral Home led by government pathologist Peter Ndegwa.

Speaking from Umash Funeral Home, family spokesperson Timothy Njaga expressed satisfaction with the results.

“We had come here to witness the postmortem and it was completed by Dr Ndegwa and the family pathologist. We have been given the results that the late Rita died of severe pneumonia,” he stated, adding that Ndegwa conducted the autopsy in the presence of the family pathologist.

He also stated that the family was still asking for privacy and space, adding "We should remember that there is a family that is affected. We thank the media fraternity for their good words towards our sister and friend."

Some of the journalists present during the exercise included Kenya Editors Guild (KEG) president Zubeida Kananu and Kenya Parliamentary Journalists Association (KPJA) chairman Duncan Khaemba among others.

Earlier, a police report seen by Viral Tea filed at the Kileleshwa Police Station revealed that the late Tinina's sister found the 46-year-old renowned journalist unconscious in her bedroom.

The sister had received a phone call from one of Tinina's colleagues informing her that the deceased was found unconscious on her bed inside her bedroom in her house in Kileleshwa, Nairobi.

"On arrival at the scene, the sister called in the assistance of emergency medical services whereby the paramedics confirmed that the body was already lifeless," the report read in part.

It further stated that the late Tinina was living with her 8-year-old daughter and a househelp.

Furthermore, the deceased was suffering from epilepsy and had a severe fever that lasted five days, according to her health history provided to police by her sister.

Police added that no physical injuries were found on the body which was moved to Umash Funeral Home in Nairobi. Meanwhile, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in Kilimani took over the case.

Earlier, Viral Tea reported that Tinina was meant to be on duty at NTV where she worked as an Output Producer, Broadcast Platforms at NMG but failed to report, a matter that prompted one of her neighbours who happens to be her colleague to go to her place to check on her. 

Tinina’s employer NMG, in a statement in the evening, described her as an adept and experienced journalist with over 20 years of experience working for top media houses in the country.

NMG's Editor-in-Chief Joe Ageyo revealed that she was meant to make an on-air debut at NTV this week for the first time since she rejoined the regional media house in October 2023.

Joe Ageyo with the late Rita Tinina during a past news bulletin. /FILE