Nation Media Group apologises after announcing 'Jimi Wanjigi’s' death

mary kulundu

February 7, 2018 9:57 AM

Sorry to the Wanjigi family

The Nation Media Group (NMG) on Wednesday morning sent an apology to the family of businessman Jimi Wanjigi after his photo was published in the obituary section.

In a statement, the Aga Khan-owned Media Group regretted using the picture of Mr. Wanjigi in the death announcement of a man named James Richard Wanjagi.

"We regret the pain and anguish this may have caused Mr. Wanjigi and his family and sincerely apologise for this.

"Nation Media Group does not condone such publication, which clearly goes against our editorial policy. We have taken immediate action against those responsible for the placement of the announcement, including reporting the matter to the police for further investigations,” the statement read in part.

On Wednesday morning, Kenyans woke up to the picture of Mr. Wanjigi in the obituary.

Questions were raised on the motive behind the publication which stated that 'Wanjigi' died on January 30, 2018, after a failed armed robbery in Nairobi’s Karen Estate.

Every description in the obituary including the names of his family members described the NASA-allied businessman, whose Muthaiga’s Home in 2017 was broken into by flying squad officers.

The announcement also acknowledges that the purported Wanjagi was a member of Kwacha Industries – a company owned by Mr. Wanjigi – before he met his death.

According to the paper, Mr. Wanjigi was buried on Tuesday, February 6, 2017, at 3 PM.

mary kulundu