Date set for burial of benga musician John De'Mathew

Benga musician John Ng'ang'a, alias John De’Mathew, at a past event at Thika, Kiambu county. [John Muchucha, Standard]

Musician John De'Mathew will be buried on Saturday, the organising committee has announced.

The funeral committee is headed by former Kiambu Governor William Kabogo and former Thika County Council Chairman Francis Muheria.

Meetings are being held at his Mukurwe home in Gatanga, Blue Springs Hotel and Metro Fill in Thika town.

De'Mathew died on Sunday night after his vehicle rammed a trailer. He was driving home.

He had left a Thika hotel and was driving his Nissan Navara double cab pick-up when he rammed the trailer.

An autopsy on the body of the late musician indicated that he died of internal bleeding after the accident.

The postmortem conducted yesterday by pathologist Dorothy Njeru revealed the musician sustained serious internal injuries.

Dr Njeru said specimens from some body organs would, however, be subjected to toxicology and molecular tests.

Poetic songs

Gatanga MP Joseph Ngugi Nduati said several dignitaries are expected at the funeral.

Mr Nduati announced that the family had settled on Saturday as the burial date.

"Several dignitaries have confirmed their attendance in honour of the deceased who inspired many through his poetic songs," said Nduati.

Condolence messages continued to pour in from Murang'a leaders, with County Assembly speaker Nduati Kariuki and Kigumo MP Ruth Mwaniki describing the late as a person who helped many.

"On behalf of the county assembly, I send my condolences to his family and fans," said Nduati.

Mwaniki described the artiste as a person with a caring heart.

Gatanga MP Nduati Ngugi said De'Mathew had attended a harambee in support of another musician, Peter Kigia, before the accident.

De'Mathew was rushed to Thika Nursing Home where he passed on. His body was transferred to Kenyatta University Funeral Home.