Kenya Mourns Fallen Artist
It’s with a heavy heart that we share the news of Shalkido, the talented Gengetone artist known as Paul Koigi Mungai, who has sadly passed away due to injuries from a horrific crash on Thika Road.
The heartbreaking announcement came from comedian and YouTuber Oga Obinna, who had been closely monitoring Shalkido’s condition after the accident and had been actively working to help revive his struggling music career.
The tragic incident took place in the early hours of Sunday, October 5, between Githurai and Carwash, just before reaching Roysambu, as Shalkido was leaving a night event in Thika.
First responders discovered Shalkido lying by the roadside, seriously injured, and quickly transported him to the Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital (KUTRRH), where he was admitted to the ICU.
Shalkido was last spotted near Kenyatta University, where he reportedly waved goodbye before taking a different path. This happened after he had filled up his motorbike with the help of Obinna and his crew, just before they all went their separate ways.
A few hours later, his family received the heartbreaking news about the accident.
As Kenyans, fans, and fellow artists anxiously awaited updates on his condition, doctors at KUTRRH announced that the musician had been declared ‘brain dead.’
This term is used by doctors to indicate that the brain has stopped sending signals that control essential functions like breathing, heart rate, and consciousness.
Unlike a coma, where some brain activity remains and there’s a possibility of recovery, brain death is recognized both legally and medically as death, even if machines can temporarily keep the heart and lungs functioning.
As the story unfolded, Obinna shared a series of frustrating experiences that made it tough for the family to obtain information or permission to transfer the patient.
The YouTube star mentioned that despite their efforts to adhere to hospital protocols, they found themselves being shuffled from one department to another repeatedly.
He said: “When we asked the doctor for updates, she said we had to wait for the nurse to come. Then later, when we tried to get a transfer document, they told us we needed approval from the doctor. When I went back, they said we first had to find another hospital, get a bed, an ambulance, and a neurosurgeon before we could move him.”
The comedian described being moved in circles for hours, a frustrating ordeal for a family trying to save their loved one’s life.
“We were told to go to the radiology department for a report. When we got there, the place was closed. That broke us because they knew it was closed but still sent us there,” he lamented.
He mentioned that even though they kept trying, most of their attempts ended up going nowhere. The hospital staff left them feeling hopeless, with little chance of getting timely assistance for the critically injured musician.
In the midst of all the chaos and stress, Obinna shared that one doctor, who was later identified as Dr. Lillian, finally took the time to help and thoroughly explain the situation to the family.
“We met Dr Lillian after a lot of going back and forth. He was very kind and patient. He explained everything clearly and even showed us on his phone what was happening,” he said.
According to the doctor, Shalkido had suffered severe internal bleeding in the brain, with multiple points of haemorrhage that made surgery impossible.
“He said the brain was swollen and the bleeding was in many places, so it was inoperable. They had started him on medication to manage the condition. His left leg was also injured and had been stabilised,” Obinna recounted.
The family received the heartbreaking news that the condition was extremely serious, and the next few days would be crucial. The doctors had put the artist under sedation as part of his treatment.
The announcement of his passing has sent shockwaves through Kenya’s entertainment scene.
Colleagues, fans, and public figures are mourning the loss of a young artist whose future looked bright, especially after he had just begun to regain his footing following years of struggles and financial difficulties.
Musician Bahati shared that he had spoken to Shalkido just before his death, recalling their last conversation in a heartfelt post: “He told me he was finally feeling hopeful again.”
Thousands of fans and fellow musicians have taken to social media to pay tribute, remembering him for his humor, humility, and incredible talent.
Shalkido was well-known for his prolific contributions to the Gengetone sub-genre, being a key member of the pioneering ‘Sailors Gang’ rap group.
Recently, the soft-spoken rapper had been in the spotlight for opening up about his personal challenges, making repeated appeals for support to help sustain his music career and provide for his family.
While many sympathized with him, he also faced criticism from some industry peers, who accused him of mismanaging his finances during his peak fame.
Despite the controversy surrounding his struggles, Shalkido’s situation was passionately taken up by Obinna, who worked tirelessly to help him regain his former glory and find a way to make a living. This effort culminated in the purchase of the very motorcycle that had led to his tragic accident, thanks to the generosity of well-wishers.
The gift of the motorbike, made possible through Eric Omondi’s Sisi kwa Sisi campaign, was a lifeline for the former Sailors Gang member, who had openly shared his challenges after the Gengetone wave began to fade.
He had intended to use the bike for a boda boda business, and it represented a fresh start for him. In emotional videos shared online just days before, Shalkido expressed his gratitude to Omondi and vowed to turn his life around, saying, “This is a new beginning.”
Mental health expert Bravin Yuri also weighed in, stating, “Gengetone Artist Shalkido has passed on after a motorcycle accident. There’s something about life these days that just doesn’t add up.”
Regarding Shalkido’s brain injury, some doctors criticized KUTRRH for what they described as negligence and incompetence in addressing the situation promptly.
Dr. Waithera Wambugu took to X to express her concerns: “The Shalkido story is so heartbreaking to hear! Surgeons CAN and SHOULD perform surgery when the brain is bleeding. Craniotomy is done for an epidural hematoma, burr holes for a subdural hematoma, and surgical evacuation for an intracerebral hemorrhage! For a Tier 6 hospital, that’s unethical. Shame on the doctors for being so shockingly negligent!”
Sailors Gang, which dominated the pop scene back in 2018-19, was famous for hits like ‘Wamlambez’ and ‘Wainame.’ In recent years, Shalkido, like his bandmates, had stepped back from the spotlight as the group disbanded and members pursued their own solo careers.
Kenya Mourns Fallen Artist
