Media personality Njambi Koikai has passed away, her family and friends have confirmed.
The journalist famed for his radio career passed away on Tuesday morning, June 4, at a Nairobi hospital while undergoing treatment.
Njambi was battling Stage IV Endometriosis at the time of her death.
In an update on Facebook, ODM director of communications Philip Etale shared news of Njambi’s passing reflecting on happy moments that they shared together.
“I’m gutted beyond expressions. Fare thee well my friend, sister and just best friend. The beautiful smiles, the phone calls we had talking about many things including our days at KBC back in the day, your mastery of the Maragoli language and the jolly moments you shared with those you knew. You had a big family. Go well my friend,” he wrote on Facebook.
Njambi’s death comes just three days after disclosing that she was admitted at the Nairobi Hospital, and she was appealing for blood donations.
“Hi fam, I’m currently admitted at the pioneer ward Nairobi Hospital and I kindly need blood O positive. Kindly asking for blood donors,” she shared on Instagram.
On May 20th, Njambi shared a sincere and heartfelt call of help to a few Kenyan leaders including President William Ruto who was in the United States for his state visit.
“Atlanta, Georgia is a dream city for every young girl and woman who has ever battled this horrific disease called Endometriosis. Therein lies a centre dedicated to restoring the lives of young girls and women who are crippled by this disease.
“Endometriosis is tissue similar to the lining of the uterus growing on other organs. In simple terms, ni wakati tunapopata hedhi, ama periods, we shed the lining of the uterus. Unfortunately, with Endometriosis that lining grows on other parts of the body.In my case that lining grew on my lungs, causing my lungs to collapse every month and countless number of surgeries. It took me 17 years to get a diagnosis,” she wrote on Instagram.
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Njambi added, “The damage caused due to late diagnosis and lack of treatment in our country. After fundraising for specialised treatment, the extent of the disease had spread to my teeth, heart, appendix and affected my spine causing my organs to shift to the left. The adverse effects of Endometriosis and Adenomyosis cause infertility.”
At the time of her death, Njambi had been battling Endometriosis and Adenomyosis for over two decades.
Over the years, the entertainer has shared how the battle with the disease saw her lose some friends, relationships and jobs.
“I never cried. Instead I was caught up in thought. The prospects of surviving this were not very promising and every single day presented itself with new challenges
“I knew that the only thing I had to do was to stay positive and cancel any negativity. I thought about my life and the multi-faceted dynamics I’ve had to experience. I thought about my family and my community,” she shared.
In 2018, Njambi spent over a year in the US receiving treatment for stage four endometriosis.
She travelled to Atlanta Georgia and was admitted at the Center for Endometriosis Care for advanced treatment as she needed to undergo a lifesaving surgery.
Luckily for Njambi, doctors were able to remove all the endometriosis and she was making good progress by the time she was returning back to Kenya in 2019.
It still remains unclear whether her death was caused by the condition.
