Soni Methu, a Kenyan journalist and the former host of CNN’s show “Inside Africa,” died on Thursday. She was 34.
According to CNN via Methu’s sister Faith, Methu collapsed suddenly while at her hotel in Diani, Kenya and died while en route to a hospital. The cause of death remains unknown.
“We are shocked and saddened to learn of the passing of our friend and former colleague Soni Methu,” CNN said in a statement. “Our heartfelt condolences to her family and friends, from all at CNN.”
Methu served as the host of “Inside Africa” between 2014 and 2015 and was the show’s first Kenyan host. The show was CNN International’s longest running program, and it has since moved into a format without a host.
She was also previously an East Africa correspondent for the South African news channel eNCA for two years. During that time, she covered the 2013 Westgate Mall terrorist attack in Nairobi, as well as other incidents in the region.
CNN said in their obituary for Methu that those who knew her say “she had a great energy, an ability to light up the room and was incredibly kind to those she worked with as well as people she met in her travels.”