Sky Victor, daughter of the late gospel singer Betty Bayo, delivered a heartfelt tribute to her mother, moving thousands of mourners at the funeral service.
In an emotional address, Sky acknowledged the support her mother had given her in pursuing her passions.
“The moment she saw talent, she tried to embrace and nurture it, no matter what the crowd said. She was the woman who believed in me. The only thing I can promise her now is that with or without her, I will accomplish all the awards we talked about and dedicate them to her,” she said.
Reflecting on the suddenness of her mother’s passing, Sky added, “Never in my mind did death come to mind when she fell ill. Nothing major has happened in my life, so death feels so unreal.”
Sky also recounted the last moments she spent with her mother, describing the pain and overwhelm Bayo experienced.
“I saw her for only two minutes because there were so many people. I told her that we miss her and we love her. It is so sad to come back home and not see your mom anymore because she is in the hospital. She had a favourite spot she liked sitting at, and it hurt coming back and not seeing her,” she said, pausing intermittently to collect herself.
The funeral service at Ndumberi Stadium drew a large crowd, including leaders such as Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, George Wajackoyah, Mathira MP Eric Wamumbi, and Kiambu Woman Rep Ann Muratha.
Earlier, relatives, friends, and family had gathered at Kenyatta Memorial Funeral Home to pay their final respects, marking the end of the life and times of one of Kenya’s most celebrated vernacular gospel artists.