Journalist Silas Apollo. /HANDOUTA former NTV journalist was killed in a road accident in Nairobi, police have confirmed.
Police said Silas Apollo, who at the time of his death was working with Nairobi Law Monthly, was hit and killed by a speeding car on the night of Thursday, April 10.
Initial reports on the exact location of the accident are conflicting with one saying Apollo was hit and killed along Valley Road.
Another official said he was crossing Kiambu Road when he was hit by a speeding car but the driver did not stop.
The official added that the Valley Road accident was the second one on the night Appollo was hit.
A family member said they were informed at the mortuary that he was hit by a speeding car along Kiambu Road and not Valley Road.
“They say the body was recovered from Kiambu Road. We are waiting for more,” the family member said after viewing the body at the City mortuary.
Apollo is believed to have been crossing the road on foot when the accident happened.
Police said the journalist was not immediately identified but the body was immediately moved to the mortuary pending autopsy.
The case was initially reported as “unknown person hit by unknown vehicle"
Police said the motorist involved in the Valley Road accident drove to Lang'ata police station where he reported that he had hit a dog within Kilimani area.
Officers at Lang'ata contacted their Kilimani counterparts who confirmed that a middle-aged man had been killed in an accident, which prompted them to detain the driver and car.
The vehicle was inspected and detained but the driver was later released on a police cash bail pending investigations.
The body of the journalist was moved to the City Mortuary where his colleagues and family visited to confirm his identity.
His friends said he lived along Thika Road where he is believed to have been headed at the time of the accident.
Many described Apollo as a hard working journalist who was always determined to deliver.
He specialised in politics, current affairs and business reporting and had about 10 years of experience in print and broadcast journalism.
Apollo's passing comes weeks after another TV journalist, Nick Mudimba collapsed and died at his home in Syokimau on March 23 after a short illness.
National broadcaster KBC had days prior to Nick's passing also lost another journalist, Fredrick Parsayo who was found dead in his house in Kinoo area on March 21.
Over 20 journalists have died in road accidents in the last five years including veteran journalist Ken Walibora.
