Double Tragedy: Albert Gacheru’s Brother Dies of COVID-19 Two Days After the Benga Singer’s Death

The family of the late Kikuyu Benga musician Albert Gacheru, who died on Monday night, has lost another kin.

Gacheru’s brother Basilio Ngunjiri succumbed to COVID-19 related complications at a hospital in Ol Kalou, Nyandarua County on Wednesday.

His brother Julius Ngunjiri said the 69-year-old retired teacher received a COVID-19 vaccine last week and was later admitted to hospital after exhibiting coronavirus-like symptoms. 

“My brother had just received the Covid-19 jab at a local health centre on Tuesday last week. After that, he developed Covid-like symptoms that got worse this week. His death is another blow to the entire family that is yet to come to terms with the death of our brother Albert Gacheru,” Julius said.

Gacheru, who was known for his hit song Mwendwa Wakwa Mariru, died while undergoing treatment at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) on Monday aged 59. He had spent two months in the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

Gacheru is credited for jumpstarting the careers of many other Kikuyu benga singers among them Queen Jane, Shari Martin, Mary Wambui, and John DeMatthew.

His other popular songs include Mumunya, Hurry Hurry Waithera, Nindaguteire, and Yaruanio.