Veteran journalist and author Ken Walibora is dead.
News reaching Mpasho is that the former NTV Swahili news anchor's body was yesterday identified after he was knocked down by a Double M matatu on Ladhies Road while crossing.
Walibora was hit by a matatu on Good Friday.
A source told Mpasho, "At the time he not driving. On him was found a Mercedes Benz car key and press card in his pocket. And a press card."
The body is at the Kenyatta National Hospital mortuary.
Family had been looking for him since Friday when he had gone missing.
A tweep posted the photo of the accident scene.
Another Twitter user going by the name @True_Legendary paid tribute to the Swahili author.
"Dr Ken Walibora, a polished and leading Swahili writer and journalist dies in a road crash. Go well, Ken."
Adding,
"You lived your academic life to the brim. You were one of the rare men whose humility always rose with even more accomplishment - from TV news to high level global forums."
Ken is famed for his popular Swahili novel Siku Njema published in 1996. It's success saw Walibora become an instant household name in Swahili fiction.
Written in the first person, the book deals with the life of a young man, Msanifu Kombo who is born in Tanga, Tanzania and who faces family hardships with his single mother, who is a talented singer of taarab.
Being a child born out of wedlock does not make life easier for him as he is chided by his schoolmates in a culture that frowns upon illegitimate children.
Before his death Walibora announced the new translation of the novel in English with the name This Day.
The novel was translated by Dorothy Kweyu and Fortunatus F. Kawegere.
Taking to his social media Walibora stated;
“Hapa nawatangazia kwa heshima zote kutolewa kwa tafsiri ya Kiingereza ya Siku Njema! Natumai mtaifurahia kazi ya watafsiri waliojaribu kuhawilisha mawazo yangu ya kibunifu kutoka kwa Kiswahili hadi kwa Kiingereza.
Kwa watafiti na wakereketwa wa taaluma ya tarjumi, kazi kwenu. Aidha kazi kwenu wapendao kuogelea katika bahari ya Kiingereza.”
Our sincere condolences to the family and friends of Ken Walibora.
May he rest in peace.
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