Rita Tinina’s girls club honours her memory with Range Rover ride on final journey
A sombre atmosphere enveloped the Holy Family Basilica in Nairobi on Monday, March 25 as family, friends and colleagues gathered to bid farewell to the late journalist Rita Tinina during her Requiem Mass.
Described as a gentle soul with an open heart, Tinina was fondly remembered by those who knew and worked with her.
Among them were four of her closest friends from the close-knit group known as “Strong Pillars”, who paid a heartfelt tribute during the service.
The group had planned a road trip for April and were to use a Range Rover to travel together.
Now, in honour of Rita’s memory, her friends have pledged to fulfil that promise on Wednesday, March 27 at her funeral.
The girls will pay for a Range Rover hearse and travel with Tinina on her final journey to her home in Olokirikirai, Mau Narok.
This is at their own expense and not part of the committee’s expenses.
During the emotional tributes, Loise, struggling to hold back tears, described Rita as the cornerstone of their friendship.
“We have lost a colleague, a mother and a friend. The group standing before you is called Strong Pillars. It is made up of Rita Tinina, Loise, Dorcas Njeri, Judy Gakeni (Judy Wetu) and J Nyaga (JN). These were the names Rita gave us. She encouraged openness and attentiveness while shunning drama and falsehood,” Loise recalls.
The bond between the friends forged over two decades ago, grew stronger over time and extended to their families.
Rita’s vision of strength and support inspired the name of their group, Strong Pillars, symbolising resilience in times of adversity.
“We have eaten together, lifted each other up and embarked on many journeys. This Wednesday, we will embark on another journey to Narok – a journey filled with emotions that are difficult to comprehend,” Loise concluded.
Tinina’s post-mortem revealed that she died of severe pneumonia.
Speaking from Umash Funeral Home, family spokesman Timothy Njaga said they were satisfied with the results.
“We came here to witness the post-mortem which was conducted by Dr Ndegwa and the family pathologist. We have been given the results that the late Rita died of severe pneumonia,” he said.
May her soul rest in peace.