In a letter addressed to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) on Tuesday, the DPP instructed detectives to probe the circumstances surrounding the artist’s death and submit their findings to the prosecution within seven days.
The directive follows a formal complaint lodged on December 9 by the singer’s mother, Joyce Wairimu, who petitioned the DPP to open an inquest into her daughter’s death. In her letter, Wairimu expressed concerns that the circumstances under which Bayo died were unclear and required further scrutiny.
Betty Bayo passed away on November 10, 2025, while undergoing treatment at Kenyatta National Hospital. At the time, a family spokesperson, accompanied by the singer’s husband, Hiram Gitau, informed the public that the 11th Hour hitmaker had succumbed to leukaemia.
However, in her appeal to the DPP, Wairimu disputed that account, claiming her daughter had not shown signs of serious illness prior to her death. She stated that the family believes there may have been foul play involved and described the death as sudden and unexplained.
The bereaved mother also raised concerns over events that followed the singer’s passing. She alleged that the family was not given access to the autopsy report and that Bayo was buried hastily, actions she claims may have been intended to obscure critical details surrounding her death.
Additionally, Wairimu accused hospital officials and other parties of denying the family access to medical records and information on the treatment Bayo was receiving before she died, further deepening suspicions and prompting calls for an independent investigation.
