The family of John Kioli Kalua, a commissioner at the Nairobi Rivers Commission, has revealed the final moments before his sudden death in Nairobi following an asthma attack.
Kioli died on Monday, September 28, while attending to personal business in the city’s Central Business District, according to information shared by his relatives.
According to his brother, Isaac Kalua Green, Kioli was going about his normal activities and appeared well before the incident.
Family Reveals Last Moments
The environmental advocate suddenly suffered an asthma attack and called for help from people who were nearby.
Members of the public reportedly rushed to assist him and began searching for an inhaler as efforts were made to save his life.
However, the attempts were unsuccessful, and Kioli died before further help could be provided. Medical personnel who arrived at the scene later pronounced him dead.
The family described the loss as sudden and unexpected.
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Speaking on behalf of the family, Green said Kalua had lived with asthma for years and had managed the condition well.
He said there was no indication the day would end in tragedy.
“He was asthmatic. And it was a situation that was very well managed all through. And as he was going on his business, he had an attack,” Green said while appealing for prayers from Kenyans during the difficult period.
His death comes as the Nairobi Rivers Commission continues efforts to restore and protect rivers and riparian areas within the capital.
Kioli had been among professionals supporting initiatives to address pollution, environmental degradation and other challenges affecting Nairobi’s waterways.
Why Kalua’s Death Matters
Beyond his role at the Nairobi Rivers Commission, Kalua was widely known in environmental and climate circles.
He served as the executive director of the Green Africa Foundation and also chaired the Kenya Climate Change Working Group.
In those roles, he played a key part in environmental advocacy and climate policy discussions in Kenya.
Kioli played a central role in drafting, advocating for, and implementing major environmental laws and climate action programs in Kenya.
As a member of the National Climate Change Council, he contributed to the development of the Climate Change Act of 2016, Kenya’s flagship climate legislation, as well as multiple National Climate Change Action Plans that guide the country’s response to global warming and environmental degradation.
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His influence extended to county governments, where he helped shape laws including the Kitui County Charcoal Management Act, the Kajiado Climate Change Act, and the Narok County Environment Act, alongside more than 10 other policy and legislative frameworks.
Kioli was also one of the most prominent voices in Kenya’s climate civil society movement.
As chairman of the Kenya Climate Change Working Group (KCCWG) since 2009, he brought together environmental organizations, development partners and government agencies to push for stronger climate policies, increased accountability and greater investment in renewable energy and climate resilience.
Under his leadership, the network became a key stakeholder in national climate discussions.
Beyond Kenya, Kioli was actively involved in international climate diplomacy and represented Kenyan civil society in global climate negotiations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
He participated in major climate conferences including COP22 in Marrakech and COP26 in Glasgow, where he engaged in discussions on climate finance, renewable energy, methane reduction, adaptation, and climate justice.
His impact also extended to research and knowledge generation. He authored publications such as “A Review of Energy Access in Kenya” and “Impacts of Climate Change on Energy Security,” and produced training materials used by climate and energy practitioners.
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