This archive report was first published on 25 August 2019.
On August 25, 2019, a sombre mood engulfed Gathiru-ini village in Gatanga constituency, Murang'a county, as renowned Benga musician John De Mathew was being laid to rest.
John De Mathew, whose real name is John Ng'ang'a, succumbed to injuries after being involved in a road accident the previous week.
He was eulogized by his loved ones and fans as an inspiration to many, a creative man whose songs educated and entertained people, a great, loving, and caring husband, father, and brother.
His first wife paid a heartfelt tribute, saying, 'Thank you all for coming today to show your love for my husband. I don’t have to explain how John was to anyone in this room. Everyone knows he was a great man and a phenomenon musician.'
She continued, 'All it took was one look and I knew he was the man I was meant to spend the rest of my life with. He didn’t get the rest of my life, but I got the whole of his.'
President Uhuru Kenyatta, Deputy President William Ruto, and other dignitaries attended the burial, with DP Ruto eulogizing John as a good-natured, humble, and gifted musician.
