Veteran journalist Kitavi Mutua, a long-serving correspondent for the Daily Nation in Kitui County, has died while receiving treatment at Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital (KUTRRH).
Mutua died on Friday night after spending about a week seeking medical attention following a reported snake bite at his home in Kitui South.
Preliminary reports indicate that the journalist was bitten by a venomous snake while sleeping at his home. His condition is said to have deteriorated as the venom spread through his body, eventually affecting his internal organs.
He was later admitted to the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU), where he died.
News of his death has drawn tributes from colleagues and leaders who remembered him for his work in journalism and the support he offered to others.
Kitui Woman Representative Irene Kasalu was among those who mourned Mutua, recalling the guidance he gave her when she ventured into politics about a decade ago.
In a tribute shared on Saturday, October 31, Kasalu said Mutua helped her understand how the media and politics work together, particularly during her early days in public life.
She described him as a mentor and friend who was willing to share his knowledge and experience with others.
“Beyond being a journalist, Kitavi was a mentor, a friend, and a professional who believed in helping others. I will forever be grateful for the role he played in shaping my understanding of communication and political engagement,” she said.
Kasalu said his death was a loss not only to his family and friends but also to the journalism fraternity and the people of Kitui.
Mutua had served as a Daily Nation correspondent for many years, covering politics, development and other issues affecting residents of Kitui and the wider Ukambani region.
Through his reporting, he brought stories from the region to a national audience, giving coverage to local developments and concerns affecting communities.
His death leaves colleagues and those who worked with him mourning a journalist whose career was closely tied to reporting from his home region.
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