Late Dr. Sonia Nzilani, the Makueni County Executive Committee Member for Trade, Marketing, Industry, Culture and Tourism. File Photo. 
By Andrew Mbuva
Makueni is mourning the loss of one of its most respected and transformative leaders, Dr. Sonia Nzilani, the County Executive Committee Member for Trade, Marketing, Industry, Culture and Tourism, who passed away at her home in Yinzau Village, Makindu.
Dr. Nzilani, a scholar, administrator, community mobilizer, and environmental champion, is being remembered across the county’s leadership as a woman of integrity, intellect, and deep commitment to public service.
In a condolence message issued on Saturday, Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jnr., described Dr. Nzilani as a diligent and humble servant who embodied professionalism and compassion.
“Her contribution to leadership and development will be remembered with great respect,” he stated, extending condolences to her family, friends, and the entire Mbooni and Makueni community. “May her soul rest in eternal peace, and may her family find strength and comfort during this difficult time.”
Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse expressed shock at her sudden passing, describing her not only as a county minister but also as a longtime friend, intellectual, and warm soul whose work demonstrated unwavering dedication to public interest.
“I have known Dr. Nzilani for a long time as a friend, a community mobilizer who prioritized merit, professionalism, and public interest,” Mutuse said. He extended heartfelt condolences to her family, colleagues in the County Government, and neighbors in Makindu. “May God’s grace be with you.”
Former Kibwezi MP and gubernatorial hopeful in 2027, Prof. Philip Kaloki, mourned her as an academic peer and partner in advancing higher learning in Makueni County.
“My heart is deeply heavy… I struggle to find where to begin and where to end in expressing this huge grief,” he said.
Kaloki, who worked closely with Dr. Nzilani on engagements involving SEKU, described her as a treasured colleague and a “gallant champion for the environment and academia.” He prayed for comfort and peace for her family, colleagues, and the Kibwezi community.
Makueni County Assembly Speaker Douglas Mbilu echoed similar sentiments, noting Dr. Nzilani’s remarkable passion for environmental conservation—so much so that she affectionately called herself “Syomĩtĩ,” loosely translated as “the woman of trees.”
“It is with profound sorrow that we mourn the passing on of Dr. Sonia Nzilani. Her love for tree planting led her to nickname herself ‘Syomĩtĩ,’” Mbilu stated. He conveyed condolences on behalf of the entire County Assembly, honoring her service in both the Lands & Environment and Trade & Tourism dockets.
Dr. Sonia Nzilani will be remembered as a visionary leader whose work touched sectors ranging from trade and tourism to environmental stewardship and community empowerment. Her passing leaves a significant void in Makueni’s leadership and in the hearts of the many she inspired.
As condolence messages continue to pour in, one thread binds them all—a recognition of a life lived in service, integrity, and unwavering commitment to the people of Makueni.
