Zawadi Nyong’o has built a career in digital activism, communications, feminist organizing, fundraising, and wellness.
Zawadi is the daughter of Kisumu Governor and veteran politician Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o and communications professional Dorothy Nyong’o, and the elder sister of Oscar-winning actress Lupita Nyong’o.
Zawadi has often clarified that she is independent of the family name despite the influence of her family.
“I remember my mathematics teacher insisting on calling me Nyong’o when he was reading out the class roster, while he used first names for all the other children. One day I stood up in front of the entire class and said I would not respond to his call until he called me by my name – Zawadi. I wasn’t going to live in anyone’s shadow,” Zawadi Nyong’o stated during an interview.
Early Life and Educational Background
Zawadi Nyong’o was born in Kenya on September 23, 1980, and was raised partly in Mexico after her father’s exile during the 1982 coup attempt.
Zawadi struggled to communicate, as she spoke only Spanish and Dholuo, but struggled with English after returning to Kenya in 1984,
“I only knew Spanish and Dholuo. This was the first time I struggled to express myself. This is a theme that has shaped much of my life – the need to be heard. You could say this was the root of my activism,” Zawadi told The Standard during an interview.
For her education, she attended Loreto Convent Msongari and later St Mary’s School in Nairobi before pursuing higher education at Hampshire College in Massachusetts.
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Family and Marriage
Zawadi is the eldest of her five siblings, including Lupita, Fiona, Esperanza, and Peter Junior.
Her father, Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o, has held several senior political positions, including Cabinet minister and Kisumu Senator, before becoming Governor of Kisumu County in 2017.
Dorothy Nyong’o, her mother, has worked in communications and philanthropy and has been associated with the Africa Cancer Foundation and 7th Sense Communications.
Additionally, her sister Lupita is an internationally recognized actress who won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for 12 Years a Slave.
In her personal life, Zawadi is married to Rachel Zaslow Lotu, whom she tied the knot with on August 8, 2022. Zawadi publicly introduced Rachel and their daughter, Amaya, in October 2025.
Zawadi and Rachel celebrated their fourth wedding anniversary in August 2026.
Career and Digital Activism
Zawadi joined Urgent Action Fund-Africa as a program officer and as a program coordinator with the Association for Women’s Rights in Development (AWID)
In addition, between 2008 and 2009, she helped coordinate the establishment of UHAI: East African Sexual Health and Rights Initiative.
She also served as acting CEO of the Africa Cancer Foundation and held other communications and advocacy roles.
In 2017, Zawadi became CEO of 7th Sense Communications, a feminist digital media strategist, and an adviser to Mother Health International.
Before the CEO role, Zawadi Nyong’o worked as the director from 2008 to 2016 at 7th Sense Communications.
She subsequently worked on campaigns including #TakeBackTheTech, #BustTheMyths, and #WaremboNiYes.
One of the campaigns that brought her wider recognition was #1MilliForJadudi.
In 2015, Zawadi designed and led the crowdfunding campaign to raise money for Emmanuel Otieno, popularly known as Jadudi, a university student battling a recurring brain tumor.
The campaign mobilized Kenyans online and raised more than KSh7 million for his treatment.
However, following the cyber violence she experienced after the campaign, she developed Digital Ubuntu.
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Zawadi Nyong’o’s Writing and Wellness
In addition to being a digital activist, Zawadi Nyong’o has authored When I Dare to Be Powerful: On the Road to a Sexual Rights Movement in East Africa.
Her publication documents stories connected to the sexual rights movement in Kenya and Uganda.
Alongside her communications career, Zawadi developed an interest in wellness, meditation, and yoga.
She founded ZeroByZawadi, an African yoga-inspired social enterprise, and is the founder and Chief SoulCare Officer.
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