10 Famous Deaths That Shook Kenyans In 2022

They say that men die but their names live on forever. We have all experienced the feeling of losing someone we love, and cherish and someone whom we looked up to as heroes; anytime their name is spoken, thrills and chills are sent down our spines.

The year 2022 saw dark moments in the midst of the light, rocking Kenyans in the country and human beings across the world; those we feared that their time to be with the Lord had come and those whose deaths were shocking and we did not see coming. 

From musicians to sportsmen to politicians and more, Kenyans have been caught off guard by prominent deaths that have taken over breaking news items, almost all the time.

Viral Tea takes a look at notable individuals whose deaths stunned Kenyans across the divide (Updated to include the death of Pope Benedict XVI):

HE Emilio Mwai Kibaki

Regarded as one of Kenya’s greatest-ever presidents, the third president of the Republic, Emilio Stanley Mwai Kibaki was endeared among many for his game-changing tactics on the economy. Friday, April 22 thus went down as the country’s darkest day of 2022.

Former President Uhuru Kenyatta broke the news of his death in an impromptu address to the nation at State House while becoming the only Head of State in Kenya to announce the deaths of two former presidents (including Daniel Arap Moi).

The late former President Mwai Kibaki greets his successor Uhuru Kenyatta. /TWITTER

"The nation will observe a period of national mourning from today until sunset on the day the President (Rtd) will be buried. May his memory be observed and example emulated,” Uhuru remarked.

Kibaki was accorded a state funeral, with Kenyans allowed to pay their last respects at Parliament buildings. He was buried in his Othaya home, next to his wife, the late Mama Lucy Kibaki, with the military granting him a 19-gun salute.

Pele

Regarded as the greatest player in world football, Edson Arantes do Nascimento, commonly known as Pelé, was considered a legend in the beautiful game until his death on Thursday, December 29, 2022, at the age of 82 years old.

"Everything we are is thanks to you. We love you infinitely. Rest in peace," daughter Kely Nascimento wrote on Instagram

Named athlete of the century by the International Olympic Committee in 1999, Pele is the only footballer in history to win three World Cups; 1958, 1962 and 1970. Before his death, he was Brazil's joint top scorer of all time with a record of 77 goals scored in a total of 92 matches.

Known for his genius with the ball, he epitomized the sublime style of play called "samba football" in Brazil, where he was declared a "national treasure."

Nicknamed "O Rei" (The King), he scored more than 1,000 goals in one of the most storied careers in sport, before retiring in 1977. He scored a total of 12 goals in his appearances in 14 World Cups while also providing 10 assists making him the player with the most in the history of the soccer competition.

In the year 2000, he was voted World Player of the Century by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS) and was one of the two joint winners of the FIFA Player of the Century. 

While in retirement, Pele was a football ambassador who was awarded the FIFA Ballon d'Or Prix d'Honneur in 2013 in honour of his career and achievements in the popular sport. He was later 2020 named to the Ballon d'Or Dream Team, a greatest of all-time XI.

He had been in increasingly fragile health, battling kidney problems and colon cancer, undergoing surgery for the latter in September 2021, followed by chemotherapy.

Paul Gicheru

The Kenyan lawyer made world headlines while facing witness interference charges at the International Criminal Court (ICC). He was found dead on Monday evening, September 26 at his Karen home.

Reports claimed that the son discovered his father unconscious on his bed, hours after complaining that he was feeling unwell. The son was later believed to have alerted the mother to check on the father, after which medical response teams from a nearby health facility were summoned. 

Gicheru's son collapsed after learning that his father had died, and was rushed to the hospital where he is recuperating, according to sources privy to the matter who revealed to Viral Tea on the night he died.

The late lawyer was interred on Thursday, October 6, at his farm in Bahati, Nakuru.

“The pattern of mysterious and unexplained deaths is extremely disturbing. We call upon the international investigative agencies, including Interpol, to lead the investigation," Azimio leader Raila Odinga, agitated for a probe into the lawyer's demise. 

Queen Elizabeth

On Thursday, September 8, reports went rife that the late Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom (UK) was put under medical supervision after Buckingham Palace said her doctors were "concerned" for her health.

The 96-year-old head of state, considered to be Britain's longest-serving monarch, was affected by health problems since last October that left her with difficulties walking and standing. This sparked curiosity across the world and even led to the uncovering of a secret plan the UK had planned for years in the event of her eventual demise, dubbed Operation London Bridge.

At 8.30 pm Kenyan time, the Royal Family officially announced her death through a statement on Twitter. Later, her son Charles took over the reins to become the next King and could take up to the end of the first quarter of 2023 for him to be formally crowned king at a coronation ceremony.

She was laid to rest on Monday, September 19 at Windsor Castle's King George VI Memorial Chapel, alongside her father, her mother, and her sister’s ashes, in a funeral, attended by world leaders including President William Ruto and its proceedings amazing billions across the world.

Charles Njonjo

Kenya did not even get settled down into the New Year 2022 when it was hit by the death of Attorney General Charles Njonjo on January 2, 2022.

While announcing Njonjo’s death, former President Uhuru Kenyatta indicated that the veteran lawyer was the last surviving member of his father, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta's, cabinet.

“Njonjo passed away peacefully at 5 am this morning at the age of 101 years. His passing is a big blow to all owing to his leading role in the founding of the Kenyan nation at independence," Uhuru eulogised.

Takeoff (Migos)

Arguably the biggest demise to hit world music and entertainment happened in cruel circumstances. 28-year-old, Grammy-nominated musician Kirshnik Khari Ball alias Takeoff was shot dead on Tuesday, November 1 following an early morning shootout in Houston, Texas, USA.

Police one month later arrested a man and charged him with murder in connection with the fatal shooting, which was earlier reported to be over a game of dice, but the singer was "an innocent bystander".

At a press conference, Houston Police announced that they arrested Patrick Xavier Clark, 33, with the help of surveillance footage that was obtained from the night of the shooting.

Takeoff (left) and Quavo, of Migos. /GUARDIAN

Takeoff was the youngest member of the rap group Migos, and his death was mourned by fans and fellow musicians. 

The group's 2013 hit Versace went viral and peaked at number 99 on the Billboard Hot 100. Takeoff started making beats and developing rhythms in the seventh grade but didn't start producing music professionally until 2011.

Wilfred Olwenya Maina

Kenya’s entertainment sector was hard hit after the death of renowned actor Wilfred Olwenya, popularly known by his stage name, Oti.

The star of the locally produced film, Nairobi Half Life, now available on Netflix, was confirmed dead at a Nairobi hospital on July 4, 2022, after he collapsed at his home.

A post-mortem conducted on his body revealed that the actor succumbed to Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), a heart condition characterised by the thickening of the heart muscles.

His former colleague at Radio Africa group, Maina Kageni, mourned his untimely demise. 

"We'll miss you here at Radio Africa... among the very best voices in East Africa.... great actor, superb talent!!!!

"Recalling your outstanding role in the movie Nairobi Half-life...what a game-changer you were, big boss! Rest In Peace" mourned Kageni.

Shinzo Abe

The 67-year-old former Japanese prime minister was on July 8, 2022 shot while giving a campaign speech in Nara, prior to his death. 

It was reported at the time that Abe was shot in his chest and neck, leaving him in critical condition. He was airlifted to the hospital for emergency treatment but the efforts of medics failed to bear positive results.

Shinzo Abe became Japan's longest-serving prime minister in November 2019 but by 2020, public support diminished due to his methods of handling the COVID-19 pandemic as well as a series of scandals such as the arrest of his former minister on grounds of misuse of the office.

Abe resigned in 2020 over the Olympic Games which were postponed to 2021 due to the pandemic.

Former President Uhuru Kenyatta has since joined fellow world leaders in mourning the late Abe, terming him a dear friend and development ally of the Kenyan nation.

"It is utterly shocking and somewhat unbelievable to learn of the death of my friend, and one of Kenya's foremost development ally, former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, in a savage shooting incident," President Kenyatta mourned.

Catherine Kasavuli

Kenyans on Friday, December 30, 2022, woke up to the unfortunate news of the demise of one of the most iconic personalities in the media industry.

Speaking to the media, KBC acting Managing Director Samuel Maina confirmed the sad news of her demise on Friday, December 30, further confirmed by sources who told Viral Tea.

"It is true. She passed on yesterday night. It is related to the cancer ailment that she's been bravely fighting in the recent past," he said.

In her last post on Monday, December 12, she shared that she was visited by her nephew who had lost his mother to cancer, vowing to fight the disease.

"Five years later it strikes again, but this time round, we are well prepared, courageous, optimistic and thankful to every new day I get to hope courageously," she wrote.