This archive report was first published on 12 July 2020.
Ohangla Musician Lady Maureen Passes Away After Months of Suffering ¶
Maureen Achieng', popularly known as Lady Maureen, breathed her last on Saturday morning, ending months of suffering. The Ohangla musician had been battling various ailments for years, including a three-year-long illness that left her family struggling to raise funds for her treatment.
According to her mother, Margaret Akinyi, Lady Maureen had complained of back pain, which had destabilised her mobility. She had to be supported and sometimes used wheelchairs for a long time. In 2018, she underwent a surgery at St Francis hospital in Nairobi where she was diagnosed with hypertension and low blood pressure.
Despite her struggles, Lady Maureen remained a beloved figure in the music industry, with many musicians and well-wishers rallying around her to help with her treatment. Her legacy of brilliant music will be remembered by fans and fellow musicians alike.
Her family is now struggling to raise funds to secure a burial site for her, with her father, Joanne's Odero, stating that they are experiencing a serious cash crunch. The Luo community traditions also prohibit her remains from being interred at the father's compound, making it a taboo to have her buried at home.
As the family plans for her burial, they have called on the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party to come to their aid and secure a burial place for their daughter. ODM leader Raila Odinga and other politicians have sent condolence messages to the family, but many have criticised them for not doing enough to help the songbird during her time of need.
