The Kenyan gospel music scene is in mourning following the death of beloved artist Betty Bayo.

The singer, whose real name was Beatrice Mbugua, died on Monday, 10th November 2025. She had been battling leukaemia.

The celebrated star, known for hits like "11th Hour", passed away at the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH).

Gospel star Betty Bayo // Facebook

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The Musician’s Final Battle

Betty Bayo had been unwell for some time, suffering from the blood cancer leukaemia. Her condition worsened quickly.

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According to reports, she was first admitted to the AAR hospital along Kiambu Road. The singer was then transferred to KNH on Friday, 7th November.

Her former partner, Pastor Victor Kanyari, confirmed that the musician had been receiving treatment in the high dependency unit (HDU). She had been in the hospital for one week before her death.

ALSO READ: Ruto, Gachagua Lead the Nation in Mourning Gospel Icon, Betty Bayo

According to family representatives, the primary complication was excessive bleeding.

The singer's body was transferred to the Kenyatta University Teaching and Referral Hospital Mortuary.

Shockingly, her social media pages had remained active, with her last post appearing just the day before her death.

Gospel star Betty Bayo // Facebook

Understanding Leukaemia: Cancer of the Blood

Leukaemia is a type of cancer that affects the body’s blood-forming tissues. This includes the lymphatic system and the bone marrow.

The term itself is derived from the Greek words for ‘white’ and ‘blood’.

In healthy people, white blood cells grow and divide normally to fight infection.But in those with leukaemia, the bone marrow creates too many abnormal white blood cells. These faulty cells multiply out of control.

Over time, these abnormal leukaemia cells crowd out the healthy blood cells in the bone marrow. This leads to a shortage of healthy red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.

Key Warning Signs

Leukaemia symptoms are often vague and can be overlooked. They might resemble common illnesses such as the flu.

Common signs include persistent fatigue and weakness. Patients may experience frequent or severe infections. Other indicators are fever or chills, and unexplained weight loss.

The disease often causes easy bruising or bleeding. Patients may notice tiny red spots on their skin called petechiae.Excessive sweating, especially at night, is also common.

Gospel star Betty Bayo // Facebook

Classification and Treatment

There are many types of leukaemia. Doctors classify the disease based on its speed of progression and the cell type involved.

• Acute leukaemia progresses quickly and requires urgent, aggressive treatment.

• Chronic leukaemia worsens slowly, and early symptoms may go unnoticed for years.

READ MORE: Betty Bayo's Last Moments Revealed By Family and Friends

Treatment for leukaemia is complex. It depends on the patient's age and the specific type of leukaemia they have.

Common approaches include chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and radiation therapy. Bone marrow or stem cell transplants may also be used.

While there is currently no definitive cure for leukaemia, long-term remission is possible. Remission means there is no sign of cancer.

Gospel star Betty Bayo // Facebook