NTV journalist and the chairman of Rita Tinina's burial committee Duncan Khaemba on Wednesday narrated the moment he learnt of her demise.
Khaemba told mourners that similar to the time he was addressing them which was a few minutes past noon, it was around the same time on March 17 when he learned that Tinina had passed away.
He revealed that he called Robert Nagila, Tinina's partner after a colleague couldn't reach Tinina on the phone.
Khaemba said he could not understand what Nagila was saying when he broke the news.
"It was a time like this when my colleague said he couldn't find Tinina's phone. Nilimpigia Robert simu sijui kile alinieleza kwa sababu tulibishana na nikamwambia haiwezi kuwa yale anayosema. (I called Robert and I don't know what he told me because we argued and I told him it couldn't be what he was saying)," Khaemba narrated.
Since Tinina's death, Khaemba said things have not been easy.
As the chairman of the committee, Khaemba passed his gratitude to friends and the media fraternity for coming through for Tinina during the fundraising.
He revealed that as of last week on Thursday, they had only raised Sh800 as a committee.
"When we were seated in the committee as friends as of Thursday, we were able to raise Sh800 only and we didn't know what to do."
"But colleagues and friends we really say thank you We had a mountain of budget and we were able to surpass it by far until this morning we were still receiving more contributions," Khaemba added.
Addressing the mourners, Khaemba said the crowd present at the burial spoke of who Tinina was.
As a friend of Tinina, he said that she invested heavily in friendship and that is a testament to what was being witnessed at the burial and requiem mass in Nairobi.
"As said it is not well, it is not well but we look up to God. I ask myself as friends and colleagues if this is how we are feeling, how about her immediate family," he said
"But I believe we will hold each other. I think the time will come when the burden will be a bit lighter but for now……..
Overcome by the flood of emotions, Khaemba was unable to go on with his speech and left the podium.
The Thursday before her demise, Tinina had had her last lunch with Khaemba and their colleague Melita Oletenges.
Tinina was found dead on Sunday, March 17, in her Kileleshwa house.
She was the mother of Mia Malaikah and partner of Robert Nagila.
Tinina will be buried at her family's home in Olokirikirai, Narok.
