Sabina Chege: I didn’t have an affair with De’Mathew neither do we have a child

Murang'a Woman Rep Sabina Chege at a past function. She described as false claims that they have a child with the late Benga musician John De'Mathew. [Standard]

Sabina Chege, the Muranga Woman Rep, has publicly dismissed reports claiming that she had a romantic affair with the late musician John De’Mathew and even had a child with him.

Speaking during the burial of the late De’Mathew that was held today in Muranga County, Chege asked those spreading rumours on social media about her romantic links to the late De’Mathew to respect the late musician’s family.

The Kikuyu musician died on the night of Sunday August 18, in a grisly road accident near Blue Post hotel, Thika.

At the time of his death, De’Mathew, 52, had recorded and released more than 375 songs in 50 albums. His most favorite songs were “Pin Number” and “Muoyo ti kibandi”.

No child with De’Mathew

“I hear they say we had a child with De’Mathew, if that was true, the child will be here for the burial,” she said.

De'Mathew's first wife Sarafina Wairimu John.

Chege pleaded with the media to respect the De’Mathew family and herself, adding that apart from being a politician, she is also a mother who has a family.

“They have written on me (sic) and De’Mathew everywhere and even on front pages, but I want to tell them that the family and I deserve respect,” she retorted.

Relationship with De’Mathew

Chege confirmed that De’Mathew was indeed a close personal friend, adding that the two enjoyed a healthy professional relationship. This, Chege said, made many believe that the two had a love affair to an extent that DeMathew’s girlfriends remained unsettled whenever she accompanied him to public functions.

Chege featured in De'Mathew’s song “Njata Yakwa” as a video vixen years before she joined politics.

She says she featured in the video just like any other actress and had nothing to do with a relationship.

 “After we did Njata Yakwa, it became such a hit that even when I would accompany John for dance, his girlfriends would be uncomfortable and avoid me thinking I was his official partner. The truth, however, is that John was just a close friend,” said Chege.

Chege said she first met De’Mathew when she worked for a media house and guided him to produce his first music video at a time when no other Kikuyu musician had done so.

De'Mathew's second Caroline Waithira John.

Among the people who have paid glowing to De’Mathew were his two wives - Sarafina Wairimu John and Caroline Waithera John.

In an emotional tribute, the two widows described De’Mathew as the cogwheel of their lives, saying he meant everything to them.

De’Mathew was buried today in his Gathiru-ini village home in Gatanga, Muranga County.

President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto attended the burial.