Former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta has fulfilled a promise to support the family of the late gospel singer Betty Bayo with a Ksh 1 million donation for her funeral. The gesture comes just days after Bayo's death from leukaemia on November 10, 2025. Kenyatta also expressed interest in sponsoring her children's education.
Betty Bayo, a prominent Kenyan gospel artist known for her hit song '11th Hour' released 13 years ago, passed away on Monday, November 10, 2025, after a private battle with leukaemia. Her family revealed that her health had deteriorated a week prior to her death. Bayo had insisted on maintaining privacy during her illness, reportedly urging friends not to organize fundraisers and expressing a desire to 'die with respect.' Her ex-partner, pastor Victor Kanyari, later admitted he was unaware of the full extent of her condition, which deepened his grief.
On Saturday, November 15, 2025, Kanze Dena, spokesperson for the Office of the Fourth President, visited Bayo's home to deliver Uhuru Kenyatta's condolences and a monetary donation of Ksh 1 million. The funds were intended to assist with funeral arrangements and to honor Bayo's life and ministry. The donation was extended to Bayo's children, her husband Huram Gitau, and other relatives.
In a statement from Kenyatta's office, the former president mourned Bayo as 'an extraordinary minister of the gospel whose music uplifted countless hearts and inspired hope across the nation.' He praised her dedication to gospel music and her strong faith, adding, 'Betty’s legacy will endure through her children, her music, and the many lives she touched.'
The donation plans were first announced on Thursday by Ben Gitae, who noted that Kenyatta had requested the names of Bayo's children to sponsor their education through the Kenyatta Foundation. Musician Ngaruiya Junior estimated the cost of Bayo's send-off at around Ksh 3 million. Her memorial service is scheduled at the Christian Foundation Fellowship (CFF) along Kiambu Road, a church where she had ministered through her music.
This act of support follows speculation about Kenyatta's own health challenges, shared earlier in November 2025, which may have deepened his empathy for Bayo's family.