John Kioko Kalua, a commissioner of the Nairobi Rivers Commission, passed away after suffering a sudden asthma attack while going about his day in Nairobi’s central business district.
A statement released by his family confirmed that despite the efforts of those around him, medical personnel who arrived at the scene were unable to revive him, and he was pronounced dead shortly after.
Beyond his role at the Commission, Kalua also served as the executive director of the Green Africa Foundation and as the chairperson of the Kenya Climate Change Working Group, making him a significant figure in environmental governance in the country.
Brother Recalls Kioko’s Final Hours
His brother, Isaac Kalua Green, gave a painful account of how the day had unfolded before tragedy struck.
“Today he woke up very comfortable, doing his business, his usual business. John was asthmatic, and it was a situation that was very well managed all through,” Isaac said.
He explained that as Kalua went about his activities, he was hit by an attack and managed to alert the person closest to him.
“As he was going about his business, he had an attack, and he called the person who was nearest. The people who were nearest tried to save him by getting him an inhaler,” Isaac recounted.
Tragically, by the time help arrived with the inhaler, Kalua had already succumbed.
Isaac concluded his account with a heartfelt appeal to the public, asking for collective support during the family’s time of grief.
“And that is the story about what happened. The family humbly requests the country to pray with us,” he said.
The news of Kalua’s passing has left those who worked alongside him in the environmental and conservation space mourning the loss of a voice that championed the health of Kenya’s rivers and the broader fight against climate change.
