Betty Bayo’s memorial: Karua and Moses Kuria gang up to demand better health services
By Valerian Khakayi, November 16, 2025The People’s Liberation Party (PLP) leader, Martha Karua, and the former senior economic advisor to President William Ruto, Moses Kuria, used the memorial of the late gospel singer Betty Bayo to call on leaders to prioritise improvements in Kenya’s healthcare system.
Speaking during the service held at Christian Foundation Fellowship (CFF) in Kiambu Town on Sunday, November 16, 2025, Karua highlighted the responsibility of leaders to move beyond words and deliver tangible results that ensure families can access quality healthcare.
She further urged her fellow politicians and leaders to focus on practical improvements in health, security, education, and infrastructure, noting that political promises alone are insufficient.
“Those who are in the trade that I am in, that is, leadership and politics, let us do the best we can; a lot of words and no action cannot be enough, let us, wherever we stand, improve health services so that no family has to suffer, let us improve services across the board, let us improve security,” Karua urged.
“There is no way you can say you are working for the people if people cannot access health and education and cannot access infrastructure; these are facts of life and not politics.”
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Karua on Bayo’s music
In addition, the PLP leader said that, although she had not interacted with Betty personally, her music had touched her, with her favourite being “11th Hour”.
She added that, despite Betty not living long, her impact had been great and had extended beyond the nation’s borders.
“I may not have interacted with Betty, but her music touched me, my best song from her being 11th Hour. She may not have lived long, but her impact was great, and it went beyond the boundaries of our nation,” she said.
Kuria’s remarks
Echoing Karua’s sentiments, Moses Kuria stressed the importance of leaders prioritising public welfare and ensuring citizens can access essential services efficiently.
Kuria also reaffirmed the shared responsibility of all leaders.
“Wacha niseme vile mweshimiwa Martha Karua amesema, we have a responsibility kama viongozi kuhakikisha ya kwamba we do everything possible to fix health care in this country,” he said.
While celebrating her legacy and long-term friendship, Kuria recalled that four years ago, when he was admitted at a Nairobi hospital, Betty and her husband, Hiram Gitau, visited and prayed for him.
“When Shiro wa GP called me and told me Betty was in a hospital, I was abroad; when I came back, she was already dead. I remember four years ago when I was in Karen hospital, Betty na Tash walikuja kuniona na wakaniombea,” he added.