Kenya’s media fraternity is mourning the death of Gladys Kadzo Ziro, a beloved radio journalist and presenter who died on Saturday, August 29, 2026, following complications from lupus.
Kadzo was best known to coastal audiences through her work at Bahari FM, a Royal Media Services station that broadcasts in Swahili and Mijikenda languages.
She had also previously anchored news at Pwani TV, building a reputation as a warm and dedicated voice for Coast communities.
Family and close sources confirmed that her condition deteriorated sharply on Friday, August 28, with reports of severe weakness and vomiting before she passed the following day.
She hailed from Kilifi County and had quietly stepped away from active broadcasting roughly two years before her death to concentrate on managing her health, a decision that kept the full extent of her illness out of the public eye.
What was Kadzo’s last message to her friend?
Among the tributes that emerged in the hours after the news broke, one stood out.
Media personality Ommy Hazard shared the last WhatsApp exchange he had with Kadzo on Facebook, writing that he was “heartbroken” to learn of her passing.
In the post, Ommy recalled the affectionate nicknames Kadzo had for him, including Kakangu, Nzagamba ya Chelsea, and Jamaa ra Chelsea, a nod to their shared love of football.
He added that he would “always cherish their memories.”
The screenshots of their chat, captured just before her condition worsened, showed Kadzo in upbeat spirits.
The two had been discussing a venue in the Changamwe area of Mombasa, with Kadzo noting she would not make it out but seemed otherwise in good form.
The exchange wound down with her saying:
“Safi, wish you the best,” a parting that neither could have known would be their last.
“Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un. May Allah grant her Jannatul Firdaus. Rest in peace, Gladys,” Ommy wrote, signing off the tribute.
See the post below:
Fans and colleagues mourn Kadzo
The post drew an outpouring of grief from friends and followers who remembered Kadzo fondly. Here is what some of them said:
Yaa Abraham:
“My mind scrambled…I remember how we used to chat, how you used to encourage me and also to believe in God…mara ukapotea kumbe ulikua waumwa! Pole sana Mudzo, sikujua waumwa! Rest in Eternal Peace, my good friend!”
Farida Ali:
“Inna lillah wainnah rajion😭😭😭😭💔💔aky siamini”
Kivuz Bwoi Imara:
“So sad.”
Mwaka Mwaravino:
“May her soul rest in eternal peace.”
Jay Isak:
“Very sorry, broo”
Sophia Mariga:
“May her soul rest in peace.”
Did Kadzo have any plans before her death?
The unexpected turn of events made her death even more heart-wrenching for those who knew her.
Reflecting on the fragility of life, her friend expressed his heartbreak following her sudden passing.
