Standard Group journalist dies after short illness

Standard Group journalist Darlington Manyara (pictured) passed on this morning at his home in Kithoka estate in Meru town after a short illness.

The 29-year-old had not been ill for a long time, his family said.

Manyara fell sick after he returned from the Coast where he had coordinated the moving of property belonging to his late brother Ronny Nturibi who was buried last month.

Manyara, who majored in crime and court reporting, was also a reporter for Radio Maisha.

His grasp and diction of Swahili having lived at the Coast for a while made his reporting admirable.

He was based at the Meru office, having joined the company in 2016.

Standard Group Mt Kenya Region Bureau Chief Francis Ngige described his demise as a great loss for the company, the region, and the journalism fraternity.

"He was such a bubbly mate and a passionate journalist who we shall greatly miss. May his soul rest in eternal peace and may the family find strength," said Ngige.

His colleague at the Meru office, Wainaina Ndung'u, said the late Manyara was talented in reporting crime stories.

"As Meru office, we shall also miss his company and his guiding spirit for those coming from outside this region. He gave us a deep understanding of how to understand issues from a local perspective," said Ndung'u.

Manyara had one sister and two brothers. He went to Kithoka Primary School and later Burieruri Boys High School in Igembe.

He studied Journalism and Mass Communication at the Technical University of Mombasa, graduating in 2014.

Manyara had previously worked for the Nation Media Group based in the Meru office.

He was an intern at the Eye newspaper, a monthly publication, which is the oldest in Meru county.