The memorial service for late gospel singer Betty Bayo at her Eden Ville home was filled with tears, love, and unity. Family, friends, and members of the gospel fraternity gathered to honor her life.
Betty’s husband, Hiram Gitau, popularly known as Tash, spoke softly to the mourners, and thanked them for their support.
“How are you guys? I am Tash, Betty Bayo’s husband. This is home, and you are welcome,” Betty Bayo’s husband said.
“I want to thank you for praying for us and being with us. The support you have given us is immense. We used to live here with my departed wife, and I have my kids here who will only say hi. These are my kids; we lived here with Bayo as a family. It was a shock, and they will not speak today.”
Tash met Betty around 2019 and grew closer during the COVID-19 lockdown while he was based in the US. They became friends for around a year before he returned to Kenya, got engaged, and later held a traditional wedding in 2021.
Pastor Victor Kanyari, Betty’s ex-husband and father of her children Sky and Danny, also spoke at the memorial.
He said that he and Betty Bayo’s husband Tash maintain a respectful relationship for the sake of the children. And shared that Sky affectionately calls Tash “daddy,” a gesture he fully respects.
Kanyari admitted that accepting Betty’s death from acute myeloid leukaemia on November 11 has been extremely painful.
“Every time I fall asleep, I dream that my child is asking me where their mum is. I sleep with a disturbed conscience,” he said.
Despite their complicated past, Tash and Kanyari now share a bond of grief and love for Betty. Kanyari requested prayers for himself, Betty’s children, her mother, and Tash as they navigate this difficult period.
Betty Bayo’s life continues to unite her family and friends, leaving a lasting legacy of love, strength, and faith.
By Vivian K.