A life well lived!
The Kenyan entertainment scene has been rocked by the sad news of the passing of one of the best journalists fast rising in her career.
Soni Methu, a former reporter at China Global Television Network (CGTN), has died suddenly after collapsing at a hotel in Diani, Kwale County.
Her family says she succumbed to stomach complications on Thursday evening after a sudden illness.
According to her younger sister, Faith Methu, the former CNN presenter cried that she was in pain at around 6pm, clutched her stomach then collapsed.
“She started looking like she was having a seizure and my sister-in-law rushed her to the hospital but she died on the way. We don’t know much but a post-mortem will be done to tell exactly what happened,” wrote Faith.
Miss Soni Methu was born in Nairobi in 1984, raised in Mombasa and lives and breathes Kenya.
She stands at just a little over 5 feet tall.
She was the East African correspondent for South Africa’s eNCA from where CNN tapped her in 2014.
Soni Methu joined CNN on Monday 21st July 2014 and hosted of CNN Inside Africa programme. She took over from Mr Errorl Barnett, following the footsteps of Jeff Koinange and Zein Verjee (her Kenyan predecessors) who have been correspondents for the international news channel.
Soni moved from CNN to CGTN early 2016 when her former employer changed the format of her show Inside Africa to have no presenter.
Soni, nickname Taj – “The Taj Show”, had a Diploma in Business information Technology from Strathmore University in Kenya.
The IT alumnus of Strathmore University honed her career at the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation, starring in the drama ‘Hila’ and presenting Taj Show, a talk show.
Soni has been eulogized by the media fraternity as a warmhearted person.
“Woke up this morning wishing the news we received yesterday wasn’t true. The continent’s lost one of its greatest storytellers and warmest hearts: Soni Methu. From @eNCA to @CNN and @cgtnafrica she covered people’s stories with compassion and undying optimism. Rest in Power ,” wrote former CGTN correspondent Vauldi Carelse.
“I am deeply shocked and saddened to learn of the sudden passing on of my good friend and former colleague Soni Methu last evening. May the lord grant yout soul eternal peace! RIPSoni!” Nick Oloo tweeted.
“Our girl Soni Methu!! So sad we loved how you represented Africa to the world,” Rose Nyabhate stated.
“R.I.P. Soni Methu! I remember we were supposed to go do stories in the North West Africa. They never materialized!” Sam Mkenya wrote.