“People define success as making a lot of money and going up the corporate ladder. For me, my success was getting up every day and going to work in spite of how I felt”

These words aptly suited the life and times of Lorna Irungu – Macharia. Bubbly ‘Kui’ as close family called Lorna, her sunny disposition and all, had survived Lupus, a disease that occurs when your body's immune system attacks your own tissues and organs, and three kidney transplants. Having a third transplant is a rarity. Lorna's first kidney was donated by her father, her sister, and finally her younger brother in late 2008.

Dealing with infected lungs, liver and high blood pressure readings flying off the charts was common fair. Years of dates with nephrologists and checking her heart rate had ran their course. She fought and survived.

However, Lorna made her final exit on Monday 22nd March 2021 at the Karen Hospital, Nairobi, losing the battle to COVID-19.

She was a big name, a former actress and media personality famous for ground breaking shows such, Omo-Pick-a-Box TV and Club Kiboko  ‘Friends of Lorna’ had over 15 years raised Sh20 million for her medical operations, long before mobile money! Though the former actress and media personality had moved away from the limelight ages ago, she remained a high profiled personality in Kenya’s communication industry. Sat the time of her death, Lorna was MD of Gina Din Group, a top public relations and communication firm in Nairobi. 

Lorna, whose love for acting was polished at Moi Nairobi Girls, made her bones at the now defunct Phoenix Players Theatre along Parliament Road, Nairobi. This was the era of James Falkland, one of Kenya’s most celebrated stage directors. Lorna went on to star in Ray Cooney’s Out of Order and William Shakespeare’s, Comedy of Errors. Gradually, the former media studies student at Daystar University jointed a long list of thespians who transitioned from the stage to television, film and radio.

Lorna is survived by her husband Edwin Macharia and 12-year-old Nancy Mumbi Macharia.

She was cremated on Tuesday 23rd March 2021.