Kenyan Celebrities Pay Tribute To Shalkido, Hours After News Of His Demise

The Kenyan music industry has been plunged into mourning following the tragic and sudden demise of Gengetone superstar Kevin Mburu Kinyanju, widely known as Shalkido.

The former member of the popular Sailors Gang succumbed to his injuries just hours after doctors at Kenyatta University Hospital declared him brain dead. Shalkido had been admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) after being involved in a severe road accident on Sunday.

Shalkido’s premature death is a painful loss for the Gengetone community, which recognized him as one of its pioneering voices. Celebrities, friends, and collaborators quickly took to social media to express their grief, with many sharing their final, poignant exchanges with the young artiste.

Unfinished Collaborations and Heartfelt Tributes

Several prominent figures revealed that Shalkido had major professional plans cut short by the tragedy, highlighting his drive and ambition.

• Bahati shared his shock, revealing they had recently been in talks for a major collaboration that was scheduled to happen this week. “You had just talked to my management on our collabo na mkapanga tuingie studio this coming week. Rest well, young king. Tutaonana baadaye,” Bahati wrote, sharing a screenshot of the humble request Shalkido sent him for the track.
• Comedian Terence Creative captioned a screenshot of his last conversation with the artiste, saying, “It is well, rest in power, comrade, you were meant for greatness.”
• Radio host Mzazi Willy M Tuva offered a message of collective pain and reflection: “My heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, and fans of Shalkido… Life is fragile – today we are here, tomorrow we are gone. Let’s learn to love deeper, forgive faster, and appreciate every moment… Lala salama Shalkido. Your light may have dimmed on earth, but it shines forever through your art.”
• Rapper Khaligraph Jones simply wrote: “a sad day it is today, Rest well G.”
• Content creator Commentator 254 expressed profound personal grief, recalling how Shalkido’s recent life improvements meant his child “would not sleep hungry again,” asking, “Man nimeumwa sana. Kwani what is the meaning of life?”

Other public figures, including Eric Omondi and Geoffrey Mosiria, also joined the chorus of condolences, acknowledging the tragic loss of a young, promising soul whose dreams were left unfulfilled.