I'm Not Dead: Popular Kikuyu Musician Joseph Kamaru Dismisses Rumors

Renown Kikuyu secular singer Joseph Kamaru has dismissed reports circulating on social media claiming that he had passed away.

The benga musician told Nairobi News that he is still alive, but receiving treatment at the Avenue Hospital in Nairobi for an undisclosed illness. He said he was admitted at the facility on Monday and will leave the hospital on Monday next week.

“I’m alive and kicking, tell my fans and the extended family members that I’m well and recuperating and ignore the reports of the haters. For them (the haters) I dedicate them to God to deal with them for misleading the country that I’m no more, whoever takes the role of the Lord to ‘kill’ his people can only be dealt with by Him,” Kamaru said.

“There has never been bad times for the music industry like these times, there are cartels and the piracy issues, the Lord God can’t take me before ensuring that musicians get the sweat of their hard work,” he noted.

Kamaru, who began singing in 1956 said he plans to construct a Kikuyu cultural home in one of his farms in Muranga in an effort to safeguard and protect the community's culture.

“I want this country to get back to 1975 when musicians controlled the cost of their songs and could discipline the artistes who went against the ethics and standards set out by the Kenya Association of Phonographic Industry (Kapi). I will also establish Agikuyu home in Muranga as the first of its kind where we shall be advising the youth on our tradition,” the musician said.