The music industry is mourning the untimely death of Shalkido ga Cucu, a Mugithi and Gengetone artist who died after a tragic hit-and-run accident early Sunday morning, October 5. Shalkido suffered severe head injuries that caused internal brain bleeding and swelling, and despite medical intervention, he passed away hours later, leaving behind a wave of grief among fans and fellow musicians.
How Did Bahati Mourn Shalkido?
Singer Kevin Bahati was among the first celebrities to publicly mourn Shalkido. In a heartfelt Instagram post, Bahati shared that the late artist had reached out to his management for a possible collaboration shortly before his death. “Rest in peace, Shalkido. You had just talked to my management on our collabo and you arranged that we would go to the studio this coming week. Rest well, young king Tutaonana baadae,” Bahati wrote.
He also shared screenshots of their private chat, showing Shalkido’s message sent on September 18 at 2:45 a.m., which read: “Vipii bro, hope you are doing well. I just decided to reach out to you. I am really humbled to ask for a collabo from you or bossy Bahati.” The leaked messages quickly went viral, sparking mixed reactions online.
Why Did Bahati’s Tribute Spark Controversy?
While some saw Bahati’s post as a touching tribute, others accused him of chasing attention. Many questioned whether Bahati had ever replied to Shalkido’s message before his death. Comments online reflected frustration, with one user writing, “The man did not reply, but you have the guts to post RIP.” Another added, “If you really wanted to help, at least you would have responded.”
Others, however, defended Bahati’s gesture, saying he was simply honoring Shalkido’s memory and shedding light on their planned collaboration. Despite the online debate, the post has kept Shalkido’s name trending, highlighting the tragic loss of a young artist whose career was just beginning to rise.
What Happened Before the Accident?
A video shared by Oga Obinna surfaced showing him refueling Shalkido’s motorbike at a petrol station in Ruiru about 30 minutes before the accident. The clip revealed their final moments together before Shalkido was hit along the Githurai–Roysambu stretch around 4:42 a.m.
By Risper Akinyi