The sudden death of Gloria Sekeiyan Khalwale has left her children grappling with painful memories of a day that began normally but ended in tragedy, as they recalled the frantic efforts to save their mother and the hope that she would return home alive.
Speaking during her memorial service in Malinya, Kakamega County, on Friday, the children of Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale remembered their mother as a generous, loving and strong-willed woman whose warmth, humour and love for beauty left a lasting mark on the family.
Gloria died on Saturday, August 15, 2026, after suffering a sudden heart attack. Senator Khalwale announced that she had collapsed and died that morning.
She was the mother of eight of Senator Khalwale’s children, including Engine Kukaste, Olivia Sabayi, Flavia Shimuli, Gift Atubukha, Meliza Khamwenyi, Velma Nasiebanda, Sonia Inuni and Maura Makatse.
Her children said the loss was especially painful because they had remained hopeful that she would recover after being rushed to hospital.
Stephen Kapten Khalwale, Gloria’s stepson, recalled how the family was thrown into panic early that morning.
He said he had woken up at about 6am while preparing to attend bullfighting activities when his sister Gift came running to his door.
“When I opened the door, I saw her crying, and then she told me, ‘Come on, rush! They’re calling you. Mama is not breathing well.’ So I rushed to the house, and then I found our father trying to resuscitate her.”
Stephen said the family quickly took Gloria to hospital, believing she could still survive the medical emergency.
He recalled that their hope grew during the journey when they felt she was still responding.
“On our way at around Sigalagala, she seemed like she was still with us, and then we even had confidence that we were not going to lose her. So when we rushed to the hospital, the doctors tried, Tata really tried.”
Despite the efforts to save her, the family was informed that Gloria had died.
For another daughter, accepting the loss was made harder by the belief that her mother would soon return home.
“I knew Mama is going to be okay. Even after they left for the hospital, I told my sisters, ‘Let’s just clean the house. When Mama comes back, she finds the house is okay,’ but sadly she didn’t come back.”
She said the reality of losing Gloria remained difficult to accept, as the family struggled with the sudden absence of a mother they had expected to see again.
The daughter also remembered Gloria for her love of beauty, fashion, TikTok and home decoration.
She said her mother would often look around the house and think about how different spaces could be made better, reflecting her strong interest in beauty and presentation.
Beyond her interests, Gloria was remembered as a generous woman who believed in sharing with others. Her daughter said she embraced a philosophy of abundance and was willing to give to those around her.
She also described Gloria as loving, strong-willed and at times stubborn, but deeply devoted to her children.
Her children said the memories of her affection, generosity and personality would remain with the family as they came to terms with her sudden death.