Beatrice Wairimu Mbugua, aka Betty Bayo, arrived from the quiet lanes of Banana Estate in Kiambu County.
The youngest of eight. A voice that glowed like dawn over ordinary roofs.
She left school in Form Two when the family funds ran out. Bayo worked as a house-help for two years, scrubbing floors and serving meals, all while a soft song hovered inside her.
She would later return to school to sit her KCSE.
Betty Bayo Biography: Late singer rose to stardom following her Eleventh Hour hit song. Photo/Facebook
Betty Bayo, the name that stuck
In one telling moment, the seed of her stage name was planted. She once recounted on a Kikuyu radio station how, while working as a house-help, she argued with her employer’s child over which food had more protein: meat or beans.
She quoted her high school biology:
“Nyama ina proteins nyingi kuliko beans, wewe hujui Bio (logy).” In a sharp tone.
Unaware that the employer had been listening in. She said the employer then started calling her “Betty Bio”.
Later, in the shift of artistry, “Bio” evolved to “Bayo”. The name stuck.
The spark ignites
Her voice found refuge in church choirs. Kikuyu hymns, Sunday gatherings, hands raised in worship.
She stepped into the studio in the early 2010s, riding the wave of a Kikuyu gospel resurgence.
The breakthrough came with the anthemic track “Eleventh Hour”, which resonated deeply – its chords echoing in homes where hope was stretched thin.
Her songs were grounded. They spoke of everyday strain: money short, heart aching, children to feed, faith battered.
Yet through it, a quiet resolve. Tracks like Gatho, Jemedari, Thiîri, Udahi became part of her gospel vocabulary. Her tone: warm, clear, unhurried. Her message: you’re not alone.
Marriage and stardom
Concert halls filled. Radios spun her voice. She moved from church basements to major stages. When Betty raised her hands, you sensed more than performance. You sensed a soul that had walked the dark and found a song.
Her fans weren’t just churchgoers; they were single mums, factory workers, and people who knew midnight worry. Her authenticity carried weight.
Industry peers acknowledged her. She was described as humble, gifted, and an inspiration whose voice touched countless lives.
Yet the lights also revealed cracks: public scrutiny, the label of “divorcee”, and the relationship with Victor Kanyari (pastor and public figure) that dragged into the headlines.
In 2014, an investigative feature linked Kanyari to fake miracles and the infamous “Sh310 seed” scam, triggering one of Kenya’s biggest church scandals.
The two parted ways sometime in 2015.
Betty Bayo later married Hiram Gitau (Tosh) in December 2021.
Betty Bayo biography: The late singer with her husband Tosh. Photo/Facebook
Trials beneath the spotlight
In August 2025, she appeared in a hospital photo: an oxygen mask, a flat gaze, and the tell-tale sign that something had gone wrong.
Soon the diagnosis: blood cancer (leukaemia) at an advanced stage.
Her voice, which once soared above pews and pulpit lights, now paused. The rhythm changed. She fought hard. But the enemy was relentless.
The final frame
At around 1 pm on Monday, 10 November 2025, in Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), Nairobi, she drew her final breath.
The halls where she warmed singing circles now held stillness. The stage lights the mother of two once commanded dimmed. The microphone is quiet.
From radiant praise to quiet fight. From applause to whispered prayer. The arc of a life that burnt bright and ended too soon.
Legacy in the echo
She leaves behind albums, yes. But more so, she leaves a story. A story of resilience about a girl who cleaned floors and now had her song cleaned the airwaves.
A story for mothers who wake at dawn, for dreamers who stayed up late. Her music still plays in cars, in churches, and on headphones.
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Industry titans posted tributes. Fans wrote of her laughter, her strength, and her sincerity.
“She may have departed, but the notes she left linger like fading embers. The flame still glows,” a fan mourned.
Prominent gospel minister and friend, Reverend Muthee Kiengei, was among the first to confirm the news, posting on social media:
“She leaves behind a legacy of a great contribution to the growth of the gospel music industry, friendship and a soul that maximised its full potential.
She has rested after serving… My condolences to your Mum, Husband, Siblings, Friends, the Music industry and to your beautiful children.”
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