Wanjiru Kinoti, former chief sub-editor at the Star, dies at 46

It is with great sorrow that we announce the death of Elizabeth Wanjiru Kinoti.

Beloved daughter of Prof George Kinoti and the late Prof Hannah Wangeci Kinoti, and the late Mrs Rosemary Ngige Kinoti.

Loving mother of Malika Wangeci Kinoti. Much loved sister of Karimi and Martin, Kathambi, Kimathi, Wangari and Maringa.

Devoted Aunt of Mutuma, Wangeci, Thandi, Geci, Wema, Mwenda and Wambui.

Cherished niece, cousin and friend of many.

A prayer meeting will take place at 5.30pm on Monday 9^th July 2018 at the Nairobi Baptist Church, Ngong’ Road.

A memorial service will be held on Tuesday 10^th July 2018 at the Nairobi Baptist Church at 11am.

The cortege leaves Kenyatta University Mortuary at 6am on Wednesday 11^th July 2018 for a burial service at 11am at the family farm in Kauru Village, Kithirune, Central Imenti, Meru County.

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The cruel hand of death has plucked yet another editor from the industry this week.
Wanjiru Kinoti, 46, who passed away on Tuesday evening after a long illness, had worked at both the Standard and the Star.
I got to know Wanjiru through the Star’s op-ed pages.
Whenever I submitted my contributions, Director of Convergence William Pike would at times copy her on his feedback, either asking me to tie up loose ends or asking her to schedule it for subsequent publication.
Like any decent journalist, she took it upon herself to understand contributors beyond their work.
That is how we befriended each other on Facebook.
With time, I learnt that we shared a common history, having spent some time in the Greater Washington, DC  area, the heart of American political and diplomatic power.
Thus, it would be easier for her to contextualise my contributions, particularly those seeking to tell the ever-changing story of Kenyan-American relations.
She was genuinely sympathetic towards international perspectives, believing that a decent daily was nothing without them.
The one other time I remember us having an extended conversation was when I posted a brief on Facebook regarding an event at St Paul’s University (Limuru), bringing together The Circle of Concerned African Women Theologians.
Inaugurated in 1989 in Accra, Ghana, by 70 African women, it is concerned about dearth of literature by African women.
Having established a centre for women, religion and culture in Accra, it now also has a women’s resource centre at St Paul’s University.
Prof Esther Mombo and Dr Emily Onyango — both from the institution — still belong to the circle.
The moment she saw pictures of the two women, Wanjiru said the event reminded her of her mother, whom she said had belonged to the network.
With an acute memory, she noted the work that remains to be done by the Body of Christ in Kenya and Africa to affirm the place of God’s daughters in His ongoing transformative mission.
Wanjiru is survived by a daughter, 19.
Now, she sits at the table of the God she loved.
The family has planned a prayer service at the Nairobi Baptist Church on Monday and a memorial funeral on Tuesday ahead of her burial in Meru on Wednesday.

Jesse Masai, the writer, is Nyandarua county’s Director of Communication and Public Participation