Eulogizing Lorna Irungu, A Woman Who Redefined Media

By Sally Lizwa

I am having a really hard time referring to Lorna Irungu in the past tense, I do not want to because she still is and will continue to be very much present in most of our lives.

Lorna Irungu was not only an incredible media personality but also a phenomenal woman and person. She not only inspired those she took under her wing while they started out in the industry, but also spoke with so much passion for life.

A good number of us grew up watching Lorna on the popular Omo-pick-a box show that she graced on our screens. Most of us picked up Journalism as a passion after watching her and the likes of Regina-Re.

It was no secret Lorna Irungu was good at what she did and be sure she did it well. She was Kenya’s best. I am lucky I got to experience Lorna Irungu in her entirety. In 2019, Lorna Irungu held my hand when I least expected it.

I had just got my Lupus diagnosis and having known her lifelong battle with Lupus, her insights came in very handy at that crucial time in my life. She spoke strength to me that fateful day and to this day, her words still hold so much magnitude.

She kept reminding me that I was young and that the disease could not begin to fathom my greatness. Her helping settles my hospital bill was not even half of what she did for me that year. It was the constant messages she sent me on telegram that made me get through that time. At the same time, Covid had just struck and there was so much stigma around the situation.

Finding out of her demise has broken all of our hearts as she left nothing but joy, blessing, and hope in every life she touched. We only hope and pray for comfort and strength for her family and friends and knowing how impactful she was, she would have wanted us to celebrate her life with us. She was indeed sent from heaven.