A collage of some of the celebrities who died in 2024: From Top Left: Njambi Koikai, Gatwiri, Charles Ouda, Brian Chira, Rita Tinina and Kelvin Kiptum/COURTESYIn 2024, the entertainment sector mourned several beloved popular celebrities whose legacies transcended film, music, and television.
From iconic actors and musicians to influential sports stars, the industry' was robbed of its brightest lights, leaving fans and peers in shock.
Here are some of the celebrities who died in 2024:
Actor Charles Ouda
Ouda passed away aged 38 years old on Sunday, February 4, 2024.
He had worked professionally since 2002.
Ouda had done his rounds on stage, performing in over 15 plays and 7 musicals around the world.
He was renowned for starring in Makutano Junction.
Athlete Kelvin Kiptum
Athlete Kelvin Kiptum passed away on February 11, 2024, in a road crash.
Police said he was in the company of his Rwandan coach, Gervais Hakizimana.
Kiptum is said to have lost control of this vehicle, veered off the road, and then hit a tree. The two died on the spot.
Brian Chira
The Tiktoker died on Saturday, March 16, 2024, in a hit-and-run accident.
Police said Chira died after being hit by a speeding car while going home from a bar in the Gacharage area.
Chira is said to have taken a motorcycle and later alighted only to be hit while crossing the road on foot.
His body was later moved to the City Mortuary with injuries on the forehead.
NTV presenter Rita Tinina
The NTV journalist was found dead at her residence in Kileleshwa, Nairobi, on Sunday, March 17, 2024.
She was expected to be at work but did not show up, triggering the NTV management to go to her house when they found her dead.
Tinina was supposed to be on duty at NTV where she worked as an Output Producer but failed to report. This prompted the managers at her place of work to send her colleague to the house where the body was found.
The housegirl told police she woke up as usual and went on with her chores but realised Tinina was not awake as earlier planned.
“She reported to the family friend that she is dead,” said a family friend.
Tinina was to wake up by 8 am and prepare for work as she was to produce the 1 pm bulletin. But she had not woken up by 9 am, which prompted the househelp to knock at her bedroom with no response.
Luckily, Tinina had not locked the door from inside. By then, Tinina’s eight-year-old girl was watching television in the living room.
The housegirl said she touched Tinina and realised she was unresponsive. She then called one of the family friends who was with Tinina last night.
The friend, also a journalist, arrived and confirmed she was unresponsive and picked the daughter to keep her away from the scene.
He told police that he called Tinina’s sister and informed her of the news. The housegirl told police she was aware that the friend was to pick the girl up on Sunday to play with her as earlier planned with Tinina.
An ambulance was called to the scene, and the medics confirmed Tinina had died. It was then that the police informed her office and colleagues.
The family said they suspected she suffered a seizure.
Dozens of journalists trooped to the house when the news of Tinina's death hit the airwaves.
Her neighbours did not know of the death until when police and journalists arrived at the scene.
Njambi Koikai
The Endo warrior and a Thoracic Endometriosis Survivor died on Thursday, April 4, 2024.
Koikai, also known as Fyah Mama, was a prominent Kenyan reggae MC, radio host, and activist.
She was born on November 24, 1986, in Nairobi, Kenya. She rose to fame through her captivating reggae mixes and vibrant personality on the airwaves.
Jahmby Koikai's life took a challenging turn when she was diagnosed with endometriosis—a rare and painful condition.
Endometriosis is a disease in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus.
This condition causes severe pain in the pelvis and makes it harder to get pregnant.
For Jahmby Koikai, the battle with endometriosis had been long and serious.
She had been open about her struggles with the condition, using her platform to raise awareness about endometriosis and advocate for better healthcare for women in Kenya and across Africa.
Winnie Bwire
Bwire, known for her SultanaTV role as Dida, passed away on Thursday, September 5, 2024.
She had been battling breast cancer.
The family confirmed that Bwire died while receiving treatment out of the country.
“It is with a heavy heart and humble acceptance that we announce Winfred Bwire Ndubi lost her battle with cancer while undergoing treatment in Turkey. We thank you all for your overwhelming support, prayers and generosity,” read the statement.
Tabitha Gatwiri
Content creator and influencer Gatwiri died on Thursday, October 31, 2024.
Her family and friends said she passed on after a short illness. Her body was discovered in her house.
An autopsy conducted showed that she died of suffocation.
“The late Gatwiri passed on from positional asphyxia with brain oedema,” the statement read.
GatwiriPositional asphyxia, also known as jack-knife position, can occur when someone is in an abnormal position for too long.
This can obstruct the airway, prevent the body from getting enough oxygen, and lead to unconsciousness, suffocation, or death. It occurs when someone’s body position prevents them from breathing properly, leading to brain oedema and death.
Internationally:
Chance Perdomo
American-British actor Chance Perdomo, died on March 30, 2024, as a result of a motorcycle accident.
He was 27 years old.
He starred in the television series “Gen V” and “Chilling Adventures of Sabrina”.
Liam Payne
Former One Direction band member Liam Payne passed away on October 16, 2024, after falling from a third-floor hotel balcony in Argentina.
The pop star, who was 31 at the time of his death, rose to fame on The X Factor.
His fame soared after successful songs like 'What Makes You Beautiful', 'Night Changes' and 'Story of My Life' were written and performed alongside his 1D bandmates Harry Styles, Zayne Malik, Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson.
Quincy Jones
Legendary music producer Quincy Jones died at the age of 91.
His family confirmed the news on November 4, 2024.
Quincy was surrounded by his loved ones at his home in Bel Air.
"Tonight, with full but broken hearts, we must share the news of our father and brother Quincy Jones' passing," the family said in a statement.
"And although this is an incredible loss for our family, we celebrate the great life that he lived and know there will never be another like him."
James Earl Jones
Jones, best known for his voice-acting roles in franchises like Star Wars and The Lion King, passed away aged 93 in September.
He died peacefully at his home in Dutchess County, New York.
O.J. Simpson
The former football star better known for his infamous car chase and subsequent trial for the murder of his former wife Nicole Brown, died aged 76 on April 10, 2024.
A statement on behalf of his family announced his passing on social media:
"On April 10, our father, Orenthal James Simpson, succumbed to his battle with cancer. He was surrounded by his children and grandchildren."
Adan Canto
Actor Adan Canto passed away at the age of 42 after a private battle with appendiceal cancer on January 9, 2024.
He was known for starring in Designated Survivor, X-Men: Days of Future Past and The Cleaning Lady.
