JAMILA’S MEMO: Fare thee well, Rita Tinina

My memo tonight is about a gentle giant who has signed off; one of our own, Rita Yiapan Tinina. Kwa wengi waliomfahamu T9, RT, Yiapan, Maasai kama alivyotambulika na wenzake, maneno yanayoelezea kumhusu ni haya; alikuwa mtu wa kutegemewa. Rita alikuwa mwanahabari ambaye kazi yoyote aliyopewa alitekeleza kwa uwezo wake wote, hakufanya vitu hivi hivi..la! Kazi yake ilionyesha dhahiri umahiri wake. Iwapo mhariri ataangalia hapa na pale kuona ni nani atakayetumwa kuandaa taarifa fulani, jina la Rita lilikuwa la kwanza kuitwa, ni kwa sababu alikuwa tegemeo la chumba cha habari.

Nilipata fursa ya kufanya kazi naye kwa miaka 10 katika runinga ya NTV, na katika muda huo wote sikuona Rita akishindwa na kazi. She was capable, disciplined, kind and oh so stylish; nakumbuka tukimtania kuhusu mavazi yake mazuri, tukisubiri ni lini atarudia nguo au viatu! Alikuwa akituangalia tu, with her sweet smile and one raised eye brow, mtangoja tu, she would say! I remember RT was the first one to be sent to cover the ICC cases at the Hague. Nakumbuka alifika tu na saa chache baadaye tulikuwa na taarifa za Kiswahili na Kiingereza. Mara nyingi aliporudi kutoka field kama tunavyosema, Rita alikuwa mwepesi wa kuanza kuandika taarifa, hakupoteza wakati; kidogo utamsikia akiniita Farah, story ndio hiyo, andika Kiswahili! "She delivered her tasks with purpose and dignity," writes her editor and friend Joe Ageyo.

Tulipata fursa ya kuzunguka kaunti 47 naye tukifanya makala ya ‘the County Edition.’ Kwa wengi wetu tuliopata fursa ya kushiriki, it remains one of the highlights of our journalism careers. I remember we would arrive at a county and rush to collect stories, tunaporudi, Rita alikuwa anatusaidia sana kukamilisha kuandaa taarifa. Tulikuwa tunamwita editor, kumaanisha mhariri wa picha; she was amazing at video editing and was one of the first reporters to learn the skill. Mara nyingi alikuwa akijitolea kusaidia ili wenzake tuweze kuendelea na shughuli zingine; safari hizo za kila Alhamisi au Ijumaa zitasalia kama kumbukumbu za siku zilizopita zenye furaha tele.

Ageyo alisema licha ya umaarufu aliokuwa nao, Rita kept her feet firmly on the ground and her life free of drama. Kwake, ilikuwa kazi kwanza, lakini pia alikuwa mkarimu na alipenda kuwasaidia wenzake. Utawasikia wanahabari kadhaa wakisema alitushika mkono katika chumba cha habari na kutusaidia kupata mwelekeo. Former business reporter Stephen Kimani said “I remember the first day I joined NTV as an intern, Rita was the first reporter who let me accompany her as she covered a breaking news story. She was a pleasant and accommodative person.” Her colleague Melita ole Tenges said she forged a path for others like her to follow. That’s who she was, everyone she worked with has a story to tell, a beautiful story.

To her beloved family, know that she was loved and cherished by many in this industry; she touched hearts, held the hands of those who needed it, listened and guided. She was always there, dependable and a pillar of strength and resilience. Pengo alilowacha halitakuwa rahisi kulijaza. Buriani Rita, Mola akulaze palipo na wema.