MAKINDU, Kenya — Makueni County is mourning the death of Dr. Sonia Nzilani, the County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Trade, Marketing, Industry, Culture, and Tourism, who passed away on Saturday, November 22, 2025.
Dr. Nzilani was found unresponsive at her home in Makindu on Saturday morning. Governor Mutula Kilonzo Junior confirmed her death, describing her as a committed public servant whose work significantly shaped Makueni’s development agenda.
In his tribute, Governor Mutula eulogised her as a passionate environmentalist who earned the nickname Syomiti for her lifelong advocacy for conservation and sustainable land use. “We have lost a brilliant mind, a committed leader, and a woman who dedicated her life to service,” he said.
Before joining the Makueni County Government, Dr. Nzilani served as a Lecturer and Head of the Department of Hydrology and Aquatic Sciences at South Eastern Kenya University (SEKU).
She held a PhD in Natural Resources and Life Sciences from the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences in Austria.
She also earned two Master’s degrees — one in Water and Coastal Management from the University of Cadiz in Spain, and another in Environmental Assessment and Management from the University of Bologna, Italy. Her undergraduate degree was in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences from Moi University.
Dr. Nzilani authored over 10 academic publications, which have been cited more than 50 times, reflecting her contribution to global scholarship in environmental science, climate change, and water resource management.
With over 17 years of professional experience, she worked across local and international spaces as a consultant, auditor, trainer, and capacity-building specialist in aquaculture, fisheries, and natural resource management.
She supported global programmes, including those under the Netherlands Organisation for International Cooperation in Higher Education (NUFFIC), where she contributed to curriculum development and sustainable resource training.
In addition to her public and academic roles, Dr. Nzilani founded and chaired the Kibwezi Center for Sustainability, an NGO dedicated to education, public health, and environmental conservation.
Her tenure in Makueni County was marked by efforts to boost local enterprise, promote cultural heritage, strengthen tourism initiatives, and support small-scale traders.
Governor Mutula said the county had lost “a visionary leader whose intellectual depth and compassion shaped policies aimed at uplifting communities.”
Funeral arrangements will be announced by the family and the county government.
