Veteran journalist Kitavi Mutua has died after a snakebite, The Star and The Standard reported. Mutua was a long-serving Nation Media Group correspondent in Kitui County. He died on Friday night while being treated at Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital (KUTRRH).
According to The Star, a venomous snake bit Mutua while he slept at his home in Kitui South. Preliminary reports say he went about a week without seeking medical care. His condition then worsened, and the venom reportedly affected his internal organs. The Standard reported that he spent about two weeks in the hospital's intensive care unit.
Wiper Patriotic Front leader Kalonzo Musyoka issued a condolence message on Sunday. He described Mutua as a distinguished journalist and a son of Ukambani. The former Vice President said Mutua had been helping him write his second autobiography. "He was the one working with me on it. I am sorry that we will not finish that work together," Kalonzo said.
Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua said he had stayed in touch with the family since the snake attack about a month ago, The Standard reported. He called the death a big blow to journalism in the region and beyond. Kenya Editors' Guild trustee Martin Masai pointed to the irony of the death. "It is devastating that the journalist who has written the most about snake bites has fallen after a snake attack," Masai said.
Former Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu said Kitui had lost "a great son of the soil." Kitui Senator Enoch Wambua called him a colleague and a friend whose wisdom he would miss. Woman Representative Irene Kasalu described him as a generous mentor. Journalists also paid tribute, among them Philip Muasya of the Standard Group, former Daily Nation reporter Ibrahim Oruko and Cyrus Ombati of The Star.
Mutua covered politics, healthcare, agriculture and the environment in Kitui and Ukambani, The Star reported. Kalonzo said Mutua also mentored young reporters. According to The Star, he left Nation Media Group about two years ago to go into private business.