A fresh legal process has been set in motion following renewed questions about the death of gospel singer Betty Bayo, as authorities move to look deeper into the circumstances that surrounded her final days. The decision to reopen scrutiny into the matter comes after concerns were formally raised by the singer’s family, who believe important issues were never fully addressed at the time of her passing.
The Directorate of Public Prosecutions has now directed that investigations be carried out into Bayo’s death. In a letter sent to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, the DPP, through Deputy Director Jacinta Nyamosi, instructed detectives to begin a probe and submit their findings within seven days. This move signals a shift from earlier conclusions and opens the door for a clearer account of what truly happened.
The directive followed a request made by Betty Bayo’s mother, Joyce Wairimu, who has been persistent in seeking answers about her daughter’s death. Wairimu wrote to the DPP asking for an inquest, stating that there were many unanswered questions that continued to trouble the family. According to her, the family had not observed any serious illness in the days leading up to Bayo’s death, which made the sudden loss difficult to understand.
In her letter, Wairimu explained that the family’s concerns grew after they were allegedly denied access to the singer’s autopsy report. This refusal, they claim, raised suspicion, especially because Bayo was said not to have had any known underlying health condition before her health declined. The family has insisted that access to the report would help them come to terms with what happened and clear lingering doubts.
The late Gospel musician Betty Bayo. Photo Courtesy/Mpasho
Official records state that Betty Bayo, whose real name is Beatrice Wairimu Mbugua, died on Monday, November 10, after battling cancer. However, even this explanation has been questioned by the family, who say there have been conflicting accounts about her leukaemia diagnosis.
They claim her condition worsened rapidly at the beginning of November, progressing much faster than expected, which they now find troubling.
Further concerns were raised about the manner in which the singer was laid to rest. Her mother has criticised the burial, saying it was done hurriedly and may have prevented the family from gathering crucial information that could explain the circumstances surrounding her death. This, according to the family, only deepened their doubts and pain.
The DPP believes that a proper investigation will help establish the true events that led to the death of the “11th Hour” hitmaker.
The office hopes to bring clarity not only to the family but also to the public, given Bayo’s status as a well-known gospel artist.
Signs that Bayo’s health was declining had surfaced earlier in the year. In August 2025, she was admitted to hospital and shared a photo on social media showing her wearing an oxygen mask. At the time, she explained that cold weather had affected her health, though she did not openly speak about her cancer struggle.
Days before her death, reports also emerged claiming that her condition was not treated with urgency after a hospital allegedly demanded a Ksh200,000 deposit before admitting her. The hospital involved has denied these allegations.
