Veteran journalist Jerry Okungu passes on at 61

Veteran journalist Jerry Okungu has died. He has died of cancer at the age of 61.

According to the Star Newspaper, Okungu died on Tuesday while undergoing treatment at MP Shah Hospital in Nairobi.

Okungu was  a columnist with a number of newspapers including the Star newspaper, New vision among others.

He was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2011.

Before his death, he had formed Jerry Okungu Prostate Cancer Forum, which eventually turned into a fund aimed at helping people from marginalised communities in need of screening for prostate cancer.

Profile of Jerry Okungu

Born in Awasi, Kochogo village in Central Nyanza, he began his journalism career in 1986. Okungu is widely known for spearheading major events, among them the launch of the East Africa newspaper in 1996.

He also served in the World Rotary President’s Media and Communications Advisory besides chairing the African Council for Communication in Education.

The veteran journalist also served as council member of the Marketing Society of Kenya and Vice Chair of the Public Relations Society of Kenya.

Okungu also served as council member of the Marketing Society of Kenya, Vice Chair of the Public Relations Society of Kenya among others.

Jerry Okungu was among other things a consultant for the International Republican Institute in Kenya, Uganda, Somalia, Malawi, Sudan and Egypt.