A sister to the late gospel songstress Angela Chibalonza who died in a car crash in 2008 was on Saturday night found dead in her house. Mammy Runiga was found dead in her apartment in Nairobi’s Nyayo estate Embakasi. She had reportedly collapsed in her bathroom.
Breaking the news, according to standard Her house girl Everlyne Atieno explained Mammy had been fine before, and had even cooked supper for the whole family. Mammy had previously complained of having a cold, and on Friday when she came home, she asked Atieno to go to the local chemist and get her flu medication. “I walked all over but I couldn’t find the specific medication she wanted. When I came back, she told me her nose is congested and she needs to take the medicine without fail,” said a tearful Atieno.
Atieno said she wandered around and beyond the estate before getting the specific cold medication. When she returned with the drugs, Mammy instructed her to light a charcoal jiko to boil drinking water. She then asked her to give her a portion of the water to use for bathing. “She said she was feeling cold and wanted to take a warm bath and use the steam from the boiling water to clear her blocked nose,” said Atieno. Mammy told her to take the jiko and the water to the bathroom. She was inside the bathroom for a while before one of her young daughters who needed to use the bathroom noticed that something was amiss. She knocked on the door, imploring her mother to open and got alarmed by her lack of response. She continued knocking, and when she realized her mother was not responding, she called Atieno.
Tete Runiga, 25, was born the seventh in a family of 12 children; 5 girls and seven boys.
‘I CAME TO ADVANCE MY EDUCATION’
“The primary objective of my coming to Kenya in 2006 was to advance in education. I intended to study human medicine so that I would save mankind from diseases. I never thought I would find myself later saving their souls by preaching to them through Gospel music. God works in very mysterious ways!”
It is now eight years since her sister passed away and she has learnt to live without her though she says the memories of Angela’s death are very fresh in her mind.
After Angela’s death, she continued living in Kenya with a different sister, determined to continue singing.
To date, she has recorded three albums.
WATCH A VIDEO OF HER SONG HERE
Asked whether there are any artistes who are her role model she says, “Yes, first is my dear sister Bahati Bukuku, Upendo Nkone, Upendo Kilairo, Christina Shusho, Rose Muhando and Gloria Muliro. I also admire Rebecca Malope and would like to sing until I reach her standards.”