What happened to Gospel singer Betty Bayo? Kenyan artist passes away in Nairobi

Betty Bayo, known across Kenya's gospel scene, is gone - her family shared - with leukemia claiming her after a long fight. She passed Monday at Kenyatta National Hospital, where she’d been getting care. Loved for a sound that calmed yet inspired, her mark lives on in sacred music, especially hits like Udahi, Anabadilisha, or Ndikeriria.

Her voice, usually flowing in the rhythm of Gĩkũyù, touched people deeply - pouring out honest cries of belief, soft murmurs of recovery, yet also fierce determination. Through time, Bayo became known as a leading gospel figure nationwide; her music and work sparked courage in many lives. Now that she’s gone, it hits hard - a beloved force missing, whose influence stretched far past Sunday sermons.

Gospel singer Betty, known for '11th Hour,' died Friday after being hospitalized for severe bleeding

Kenyan gospel singer and Hour hitmaker Betty died on Friday after being taken to Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH). A statement from her family's spokesperson revealed that she had been transferred from AAR Hospital on Kiambu Road because she was suffering from bleeding. In their words (via Citizen Digital):

"She was suffering from excessive bleeding, the doctors tried to do their best, but the will of God has prevailed."

Medical teams at both hospitals worked around the clock to save her. Despite their efforts, she ultimately succumbed to the condition. The spokesperson speaking beside her partner and family members declared that "the will of God has prevailed," a phrase that seemed to capture the mood of those around her.

Betty's death reverberated through Kenya's gospel community, a circle that had long celebrated her voice and uplifting message of faith. Her remains have now been transferred to the Kenyatta University Teaching and Referral Hospital Mortuary as her family begins arranging funeral rites and a public farewell to honor her legacy.

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