The mother of the late gospel singer Betty Bayo has asked Kenya’s top prosecutor to open a public inquest into her daughter’s death, saying the family is still searching for the truth.
In a letter sent to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Joyce Wairimu says her family cannot accept the explanation given about Betty’s final days, insisting the circumstances remain unclear and deeply troubling.
Betty died on 10 November at the Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi. A family spokesperson, speaking beside her husband and close friends at the time, said the 34-year-old singer had succumbed to leukaemia.
But her mother disputes that account. Through Omenke Andeje & Company Advocates, she argues that Betty had never shown signs of a serious illness. “We are in unbearable pain,” Wairimu writes. “Our daughter did not have any history of an underlying condition. Her death was sudden and mysterious.”
Wairimu claims the family was denied access to key medical documents, including records showing what treatment Betty received. She also says they were not given an autopsy report and believes the burial was conducted too quickly, preventing independent examination.
According to the letter, the family “suspects an evil hand” in the singer’s death and now wants state authorities to step in. They have asked the DPP to instruct the Inspector General of Police to “urgently move with speed” and open an inquest into the events leading up to Betty’s passing.
The DPP has not yet publicly responded to the request. Kenyan law allows families to petition for an inquest when a death appears unexplained or when relatives feel the available information is incomplete.
Betty, known for her uplifting gospel hits and warm public presence, had a devoted following. Her death shocked fans across the country, and the new claims from her family are likely to intensify calls for clarity.
For now, her mother says only a transparent investigation can bring the family peace. Further updates are expected as the DPP reviews the petition.
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