It is indeed a sad week for Kenya and the media fraternity in particular as it mourns yet another scribe.
Former TV queen Winnie Mukami died on Wednesday March 17 and it is still not clear what led to her demise. However, according to unconfirmed reports, she had contacted Covid-19.
News of Mukami’s death come barely days after veteran radio personality Robin Njogu passed on from COVID-19 related complications at the Aga Khan University Hospital.
And on Monday March 15, Kenyans had woken up to unsettling news that Jennifer Wambua, who had been missing since Friday, had been found dead at Ngong forest. She was working at the National Lands Commission as a deputy director of communications.
Ms Mukami recently served as a board member at the Kenya Pipeline Company. For many Kenyans, she remains an undisputed TV queen after 9 years on the silver screen.
She made her newscasting debut in 2001 at Kenya Broadcasting Corporation as a TV and radio current affairs presenter and producer but it was not until the launch of Nation TV (now NTV) in 2003 that she gained fame as the news anchor with an unforgettable dimple and warm smile.
Her time at the station came to an end in 2010. She then founded her own public relations consultancy, Winners Frontiers International Limited, which she was running until her untimely demise.
Netizens have taken to social media to eulogise the celebrated former journalist.
“Just got news that we have lost another media colleague - former NTV news anchor Winnie Mukami. Condolences to her family and friends as she rests.” Radio Africa Group editor Oliver Mathenge shared
Lawyer Silas Jakakimba also eulogized her as a friend and a patriot.
“I am terribly saddened at the passing on of my friend Winnie Mukami, fmr NTV anchor & KPC Board Member. Over the past 2yrs, I came to know her as a true patriot who on the background, loved and served her country with dedication. Winnie yearned for a united Kenya. Rest well, WM,” Jakakimba posted on Twitter.
Other social media users also had something to say about the former TV queen:
Another Tweep, @Jose_TheSergent, mourned the former anchor terming her death as yet another blow to the media fraternity: “What heavy week this has to be, now former NTV News anchor Winnie Mukami, who recently served as a board member at Kenya Pipeline has died #Sad”
Eve sends heartfelt condolences to her family and friends.