CS Farida Karoney’s PA who is a former Royal Media journalist succumbs to stroke

By , K24 Digital
On Wed, 8 Apr, 2020 16:27 | 3 mins read
Jacques Masea, a former Royal Media Services Limited journalist, has died. [PHOTO | COURTESY]
Jacques Masea, a former Royal Media Services Limited journalist, has died. [PHOTO | COURTESY]
Jacques Masea, a former Royal Media Services Limited journalist, has died. [PHOTO | COURTESY]

Jacques Masea, a former Royal Media Services Limited journalist, has died.

Masea, who until the time of his demise was the personal assistant to Lands Cabinet Secretary Farida Karoney, succumbed to stroke at his home in Nairobi.

Masea was last seen in public on Friday, April 3. It is suspected he suffered the stroke on Saturday, but because he was alone in the house, he couldn't get immediate medical attention.

His friends’ attempts to call him on phone on Saturday and Sunday bore no fruit as the calls went unanswered.

The friends later Monday, went to his house, broke down his door and found him lying on the floor. Medics, who arrived at the scene, declared Masea had been paralysed on the left side of his body due to the stroke.

He was taken to a Nairobi hospital in critical condition.

He, however, lost the battle on Tuesday evening (April 7).

The Lands ministry is seeking a special pass that will allow them transport Masea’s body to Kisii County for burial slated for Thursday, April 9.

Masea, who died aged 30, is survived by a wife and two young children.

Following news of his death, his former colleagues at Royal Media have taken to their social media pages and WhatsApp platforms to mourn Masea.

The deceased, a Maseno University alumnus, joined Royal Media Services Limited as an intern attached to TV department in 2015. He later moved to the digital department as a video producer.

The bubbly and kind journalist would later join former Royal Media Services Chief Operating Officer, Farida Karoney, at the Ministry of Lands, where she had been appointed the Lands minister. Masea majorly handled the CS’s communications.

Former Citizen Television managing editor, Nixon Ng’ang’a, who is currently at the Presidential Delivery Unit, said: “We mourn a truly humble, kind, affable young man. To say: 'losing such a promising man so early is painful', is an injustice to language.”

Citizen TV news anchor Lillian Muli said: “This is the saddest news I have ever heard. Masea was a good lad. He was a very roho safi man.”

Citizen TV news anchor Lulu Hassan said: “Where do I even start, Masea? [You were] our advisor, friend, former colleague… We had plans. You would look out for us whenever we wanted to make decisions on matters finances. I am broken, Masea… You were a rare kind, Masea. I bet heaven is all smiles. You will be missed by many.”

Another Citizen TV journalist, Sam Gituku, said: “A really sad day, such a charming soul. [He was] full of life and inspiration. Hard-worker, and go-getter. Rest in peace, Masea.”

Citizen TV political news editor, Francis Gachuri, said: “Masea was that guy in the office who was clever, knew things and people. May his soul find eternal rest in heavenly bliss.”

Masea’s former colleague at Royal Media Services’ digital department, Benjamin Wafula, said: “Jacques Masea, your commitment and hard-work saw you rise to great heights; from Citizen to Ministry of Lands. You touched lives and warmed hearts. You were a humble soul; you were kind and cheerful. Though you are gone, I will cherish the memories I have of you. Rest with the angels, my friend.”

I, Brian Okoth, knew Masea very closely. I worked with him at the digital desk of Royal Media Services, my immediate former employer. And, because this article is not about me, but Masea, I dedicate the paragraph below to paint a picture of who Masea was.

Masea was kind. Masea was generous. Masea was helpful. Masea had a listening ear. Masea had proper networking skills; so nonpareil!

He and I had planned to meet a week after March 16. If I can quote his message to me on WhatsApp, he said: “Niko poa, kaka. We were to meet, remember? Give me a date because my schedule is easy on weekends”.

I gave Masea March 26 as our meeting date. When that day reached, I got an emergency to attend to, and we rescheduled to another date – this coming weekend. Sadly, this weekend, Masea will have already been buried. I wish I met him on March 26.

Rest in peace, my friend.

I will miss how you often said: “Bradhee, hii life ni kujipanga.”

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