Makueni Mourns Dr Sonia Nzilani, County Trade Executive Found Dead at Home
Makueni County is mourning the death of Dr Sonia Nzilani, the County Executive Committee Member for Trade, who was found unresponsive at her home in Makindu on Saturday morning.
Governor Mutula Kilonzo Junior confirmed the death, saying her body was moved to Montezuma Funeral Home as the family awaits further information on the cause. He described the news as a major loss to both her family and the county, noting that relatives had already viewed the body.
President William Ruto also paid tribute, describing Dr Nzilani as a public servant committed to environmental conservation and sustainable development. He said her work influenced communities across the country and urged Kenyans to uphold the values she championed. Before joining the county government, Dr Nzilani lectured at South Eastern Kenya University (SEKU), where she headed the Department of Hydrology and Aquatic Sciences.
Her academic background included a PhD in Natural Resources and Life Sciences from the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences in Austria, two Master’s degrees from the University of Cadiz in Spain and the University of Bologna in Italy, and a Bachelor’s degree in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences from Moi University.
She authored more than ten scientific publications and worked for seventeen years as a consultant and trainer in aquaculture, fisheries, climate change, and natural resource management. She collaborated with international organisations such as the Netherlands Organisation for International Co-operation in Higher Education (NUFFIC) and established the Kibwezi Centre for Sustainability, an NGO focused on education, public health, and environmental protection.
Her commitment to tree planting earned her the nickname “Syomiti”. Earlier this year, Dr Nzilani faced criticism after saying during a funeral that menstruating women attract crocodiles, a claim specialists dismissed as unsupported by science. She later issued a public apology.
