Renowned reggae MC and radio personality MC Fullstop, born John Maina, was buried at Lang’ata Cemetery in an emotional send-off attended by hundreds of fans and fellow entertainers.
Moments before the burial, the crowd called for the casket to be opened for a final viewing, praising his legacy.
The hype master passed away on August 1 after a long battle with illness that had seen him frequently hospitalized.
His death shocked fans across Kenya and beyond. But behind the microphone and the music was a man who had been struggling silently with illness, rejection, and the effects of long-term alcohol use.
MC Fullstop on Illness, Alcohol Use and Employer Betrayal
In a Citizen TV interview before his death, MC Fullstop opened up about his health and personal battles.
He revealed that he had been using alcohol since 1996.
“Pombe hainanga faida. It leaves you broke. It doesn’t build the body,” he said honestly. His words were a warning and a reflection of what he had gone through.
In 2021, he was diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB), which attacked his lungs. Treatment did not help much.
In 2022, TB spread to his throat. By then, his left lung had completely collapsed. He explained that lungs do not regenerate like the liver, which made his condition permanent.
“Nimebaki na moja,” he said, meaning he was left with only one functioning lung.
Life was never the same again. He could no longer walk or talk without effort. Basic tasks became painful. But what hurt him even more was how people turned away.
He painfully recalled how a company he had worked with for 11 years abandoned him once he fell sick.
“They switched off their phones. They vanished,” he said.
Despite all this, MC Fullstop remained humorous and hopeful in public. He continued engaging with fans, often sharing his updates with honesty and courage.
His death is not just the end of a reggae icon’s life, it is a cautionary tale about how substance abuse, illness, and a lack of support can destroy even the strongest of people. It is also a reminder to treat people with kindness, especially when they are at their lowest.
MC Fullstop will be remembered not just for his powerful voice on stage and radio, but also for his bravery in facing a painful reality with truth and humility.
Rest in power MC Fullstop.
By Vivian K.