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Kenyans mourn passing of prominent TV star, Rita Tinina

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Kenyans, especially those within the country’s media space, have been thrown into mourning following the sudden death of veteran television journalist, Rita Tinina, who was found dead at her home in the capital, Nairobi, on Sunday.

According to a preliminary police report filed at Kileleshwa Police Station shortly after she was found unconscious in her house, the NTV broadcaster suffered from a bout of epilepsy.

The report which quoted the deceased’s sister, Helen Silau Njaga, said that the journalist was epileptic and had been suffering severe fever in the past week before succumbing to the cold hands of death.

Njaga reportedly told the police that the 46-years-old journalist was found unconscious on her bed inside her bedroom at her Kileleshwa home.

Njaga said when she was informed of the situation, she rushed to her sister’s home and when she arrived, she found Tinina unresponsive and called for medical assistance, adding that paramedics confirmed that the body was already lifeless upon arrival.

“On behalf of Yiapan’s family, this has come as a shock to us. We are really trying to digest and at the moment we just request for the privacy to be accorded to the family. More information will come in the letter,” Njaga told the press shortly after her sister’s body was transferred to a funeral home by the police.

The news of the journalists demise has sent the Kenyan media industry into mourning with a plethora of accolades hailing her as a trailblazing media personality.

Her colleagues at NTV said she was expected to be on duty on Sunday but failed to show up, prompting a wellness check in her house where she was found unconscious.

Prominent among those who poured accolades on the long-serving TV journalist known for her captivating news features, was President William Ruto who took to his official X account to eulogise her.

“My sincere condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Rita Tinina – a pioneer and a trailblazer in TV journalism. Rest In Peace, Rita,” he wrote.

Former President Raila Odinga also posted his condolences on X:

“Her passing leaves a void in the industry, yet her legacy of storytelling and integrity will endure,” he said.

Culture

Ghana’s Afua Asantewaa begins second GWR sing-a-thon attempt

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Ghanaian singer, Afua Asantewaa, on Saturday, began her second attempt at breaking the Guinness World Record (GWR) for the longest singing marathon by an individual.

The sing-a-thon which began in the early hours of Saturday, December 21, at Heroes’ Park, Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi, will run until December 25, and will see the determined songstress perform non-stop, focusing exclusively on Ghanaian songs.

According to Asantewaa’s manager, Madam Gladys Osei Owiredu, the audacious initiative is aimed at showcasing the rich cultural heritage of Ghanaian music to a global audience.

Owiredu confirmed that preparations for the event had been extensive but expressed confidence in Asantewaa’s readiness to finally break the record.

“I can confirm that she is ready for the task ahead. It’s been challenging—by way of preparations—but I can say she is ready,” Owiredu said.

Asantewaa’s second attempt follows her first effort in December 2023, which fell short of surpassing the current record of 105 hours held by India’s Sunil Waghmare.

But despite the setback, her team remains optimistic about breaking the record this time with corporate sponsors including International Maritime Hospital, Ghana Gas, Nasco Electronics, and Zoomlion Ghana Limited rallying behind her, underscoring the importance of the attempt in amplifying the global significance of Ghanaian music.

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Ghana’s Supreme Court dismisses suit challenging anti-LGBT bill

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Ghana’s Supreme Court has dismissed two separate suits challenging the legality of one of the proposed anti-LGBT legislations awaiting assent into law by the president.

The separate suits were filed by two legal practitioners, Amanda Odoi and Richard Sky, challenging the bill, seeking to declare it illegal and prevent the president from signing it.

The two cases had challenged the constitutionality of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill.

But in a ruling on Wednesday, the Supreme Court unanimously decided to dismiss the legal challenges to the new anti-LGBT legislation that has been criticised by rights groups.

The controversial bill was passed earlier this year by Ghanaian lawmakers with three years imprisonment for people identifying as LGBT and five years for forming or funding LGBT groups.

While dismissing the cases, presiding judge, Justice Avril Lovelace-Johnson, who delivered the ruling on behalf of the seven-member panel, said the cases were premature.

“Until there’s presidential assent, there is no act, the two cases were “unanimously dismissed,” she said.

The ruling is the latest blow to the LGBTQ community in Ghana and paves the way for the president to sign into law what many say is one of Africa’s most restrictive piece of anti-LGBTQ legislation.

President Nana Akufo-Addo, whose term in office ends on 7 January, had delayed signing it pending the outcome of the Supreme Court challenge but the judges said the case could not be reviewed until it had been signed it into law.

It expected that incoming president, John Mahama, will sign the bill into law as he had always expressed his support for the bill during his electioneering campaigns.

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