Raila Odinga leads Kenyans in mourning Lady Maureen

Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Party Leader Raila Odinga has led Kenyans in mourning the Late musician Lady Maureen, who died at her relative’s home in Uriri, Migori County on Saturday morning (July 11).

Lady Maureen, whose real name is Maureen Achieng, succumbed after a long illness at 3:30am, her family says.

Her cousin, Bella Achieng, whom the Ohangla singer was living with at the time of her death, confirmed the sad news.

Lady Maureen has died aged 36.

“My condolences go out to the family, friends and fans of Lady Maureen. Achieng' was immensely talented and very dynamic; always adapting to new trends in a very competitive music industry. May she Rest In Eternal Peace,” said Raila Odinga on Twitter at 8:20am Saturday.

The hash tag #RIPLadyMaureen shot to the top-most trending position on Twitter in Kenya early Saturday after online users took to the micro-blogging site to mourn the departed chartbuster.

On June 23 this year, Lady Maureen’s mother, Margaret Akinyi Onyango, had to come out to clarify false reports about her daughter’s death at the time.

Ms Onyango said her daughter, who had been ailing for months, was receiving treatment at a Tanzanian hospital.

A Kenyan blog had inaccurately reported that Lady Maureen died in the wee hours of June 23.

Ms Onyango said the artiste’s vocalist known as Maureen Nyar Awendo was the one who died early June 23, and not her daughter.

“Maureen Nyar Awendo was receiving treatment at the hospital where my child is admitted. She (the deceased) was a member of my daughter’s band. May her soul rest in peace,” said Ms Onyango.

In January this year, Lady Maureen gave an update on her health condition, allaying fears — at the time — that she was in critical condition.

Lady Maureen was — at the time — admitted at Pastor Machage Memorial Hospital in Migori County.

She said she was diagnosed with a severe stomach infection, and had been in hospital since January 23.

“I am ailing, but not dead. I was told that I would, most likely, be discharged from hospital in the next five days,” Lady Maureen told K24 Digital on January 30.

“I have heard a section of people reporting that I am dead. It hurts me to learn that there are people who wish I was dead. Nonetheless, what I am sure about is that I will walk out of this hospital in good health,” she added. The musician said due to her hospitalisation, her four children bore the brunt of her absence.

“I have been forced to beg so that my children can eat,” she said, adding: “Begging is a relatively new phenomenon to me; so, I am finding a lot of difficulty in doing so.”

The 36-year-old said after being discharged from hospital, she was going to produce a gospel song.

Lady Maureen’s mother, Margaret Akinyi Onyango, — at the time — told K24 Digital that it broke her heart to see her daughter in poor health, but she [Akinyi] was optimistic that Lady Maureen will emerge triumphant in her battle against disease.

The charge nurse at Pastor Machage Memorial Hospital, Alfred Otieno, told K24 Digital then that Lady Maureen had received two pints of blood, and was responding well to treatment.

Following her discharge from the Migori hospital, Lady Maureen was taken ill again, leading to her admission to the Tanzanian health facility, where she was treated and discharged a few weeks ago.