Colleagues mourn veteran photo editor, Wainaina
The media fraternity has been plunged into mourning following the death of veteran photojournalist Hudson Wainaina who passed away on Saturday night.
Wainaina (pictured), a former photographic editor with People Daily newspaper, also worked as a photojournalist with Standard Media Group as well as the defunct State-owned Kenya Today.
Speaking to this writer yesterday, Joan Wanjiru, Wainaina’s daughter, said his father developed health complications on Saturday afternoon when he started vomiting blood.
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“We rushed him to Guru Nanak Hospital where tests conducted revealed he had suffered chronic kidney failure. The doctors told us he had internal bleeding as a result,” Wanjiru said.
Due to the internal bleeding, the family was required to seek for a blood group O negative donor, an exercise that proved Herculean.
“We left the hospital very late and when we returned the next day at around mid-day, we were told he was no more,” Wanjiru said.
She said her father had spent the early part of Saturday in a jovial and hale and hearty mood. Wanjiru described her father as a “hardworking, passionate and down-to-earth individual” despite his connections with the mighty in society, including President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Media Council of Kenya said the fallen journalist will be remembered for “his hard work and commitment to the industry”.
His former colleagues described him as a friendly person, who always had time for
young journalists who he enthusiastically mentored.
Raphael Munge, a senior photographer with People Daily, recounted his professional journey with the deceased, who rose to be his boss at the picture desk, and also Standard, Group and who described as “a great teacher and a mentor to many journalists”.
Business Editor at People Daily Fred Aminga termed Wainaina’s death as a blow to the industry owing to his rich history of the country’s political and social sphere.
“I worked with Hudson at three different stations. As a photo editor, he was a repository of Kenya’s history, and the media fraternity has literally lost one of its deepest sources of historic perspective. May he rest in peace,” Aminga said.
People Daily Entertainment and ArtsSub Editor Elly Gitau who also worked closely with Wainaina termed him as a father figure, who would go to the length of not only mentoring journalists professionally but also on life issues stating they also interacted socially since they were once neighbours.
