Betty Bayo buried in green-themed event as mother fails to attend, presidency donates Sh10m

Gospel musician Beatrice Wairimu Mbugua, popularly known as Betty Bayo, was laid to rest on Thursday in a private ceremony at her Mugumo Estate, near Kamiti Corner, in Kiambu County.

At exactly 5.20pm, her body was lowered into the grave in the presence of only 50 people, made up of close family, select friends from the music industry, and a few politicians.

Security was tight, with strict restrictions on photography at the graveside, as the family sought to maintain privacy.

The intimate burial followed a public service earlier in the day at Ndumberi Stadium, where hundreds of her fans, friends, and relatives gathered to celebrate the life of the 36-year-old singer whose rise to fame was marked not only by her gospel ministry but also by her widely publicised marriage to her former husband, Prophet Victor Kanyari.

The colour green defined her send-off. From her casket to the outfits worn by her husband Hiram Gitau, her children, and even Prophet Kanyari, it was an all-green affair.

Many of her close friends and relatives also put a touch of green in their attire.

According to her close confidants, the colour was chosen because it represented a core part of who she was. One of her close friends explained to Nation: “Betty loved nature, and she has sold land to so many of her friends. Green symbolises renewal, hope, life, and growth, and often reflects the deceased's love of nature.”

Mother absent 

Interestingly, one person who was absent from the burial was her mother, Joyce Mbugua. She did not physically attend the service as she is based in the United States.

However, she participated in a prayer service held in Seattle and sent her tribute in honour of her daughter, which was delivered during the burial ceremony in Kiambu.

Betty’s husband, Hiram Gitau, moved mourners with an emotional tribute, describing the silence that has engulfed their home since her passing.

He said the house now “echoes with a heavy, profound quiet” where her laughter once filled their lives.

He described his grief as “a new raw footprint, a landscape of loss shaped entirely by your absence”, adding that losing her felt like losing the compass by which he navigated the world.

“I find myself turning to share a thought with you, only to find empty space. I reach for you in the night and find cold sheets,” he said.

He recalled the routines they shared, from parenting moments to late-night conversations and even their simple skincare sessions, memories that now “ache with intensity”.

Mr Gitau vowed to anchor his life on their children, saying, “My commitment to our children is now the very axis of my life. The love you poured into them will now flow through me, doubled in its intensity.”

Kanyari's tribute

Her ex-husband, Prophet Kanyari, also paid tribute, describing Betty as a dreamer and a loving partner.

He publicly apologised for the hardship she endured during the controversies that surrounded their past. “I am truly sorry that my brand, my name and my drama put you through difficult moments,” he said.

Despite their differences, he praised her for never turning their children against him or denying them a father.

Her children remembered her as a warm, supportive parent and promised to uphold her dreams.

“The only promise I can make to her now is this: with or without her, I will accomplish all the awards we talked about, and I will dedicate every single one of them to her,” her daughter said.

Trust fund 

President William Ruto and Deputy President Kithure Kindiki contributed Sh10 million to support the future of Betty’s two children.

The donation, announced at Ndumberi Stadium, will be placed in a trust fund dedicated to the children’s education and long-term welfare.

Sources close to the family say the fund will be managed transparently to ensure stability for the children.

Prof Kindiki, who attended the burial, euologised Betty as a remarkable talent whose voice and ministry touched countless lives across the country, adding that the government will continue supporting families of artistes who leave a significant mark on Kenya’s cultural and spiritual life.

The ceremony attracted numerous leaders, including former Public Service Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria, Kiambu Woman Representative Ann Muratha,  Mathira MP Eric Wamumbi, Murang’a Woman Representative Betty Maina, nominated senator Karen Nyamu and former presidential candidate George Wajackoyah.

Colleagues from the gospel industry filled the stadium with songs, delivering emotional musical tributes that left many in tears.

Tanzanian gospel singer Rose Muhando, overwhelmed with emotion, recalled their deep friendship.

“Betty was a sister and a friend. My children love her because they know she was there for me at my lowest,” she said, remembering the day she personally took Betty to hospital years ago when she fell ill in Kenya.

Bishop Michael Wanderi of Christian Foundation Fellowship remembered Betty as a generous supporter of ministry, revealing she contributed Sh500,000 when he was starting his church.

Betty passed away on November 10 while receiving treatment at the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH). She had suffered complications arising from leukaemia, which caused excessive bleeding.

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