Chokoza hitmaker Marya recounts terrifying stroke moment while holding her baby
By Ascah Mwango, September 23, 2025Renowned Kenyan singer Mary Maina, popularly known as Marya, has opened up about the terrifying stroke that struck her suddenly a few months ago.
Speaking during an interview on the Oga Obinna show on Monday, September 22, 2025, Marya shared how the ordeal unfolded while she was at home with her children.
The Chokoza hitmaker recalled that it happened in an instant as she was holding her second-born child. The baby slipped from her arms, and as she tried to pick him up, she also fell to the ground. At that moment, her body began to lose strength, and she felt numbness in her hand and leg.
She narrated that her nanny, overwhelmed by the sudden emergency, struggled to figure out what to do as both mother and child cried. Marya was later rushed to the hospital, where doctors confirmed she had suffered an ischemic stroke.
She said she could not even clench her fist at the time, a clear sign of how severely her body had been affected.
“It happened within the blink of an eye. I was holding my secondborn, and he fell. When I got up to get him, I also fell. Now my son was crying, I was crying, my nanny got confused, I told her to call whoever she could, immediately. I felt numbness in my hand and leg. It just happened. At the hospital, I could not fist my hand. They said I had an Ischemic Stroke,” Marya narrated.
Earlier in June, comedian Eric Omondi had taken to social media to rally Kenyans in support of Marya. In a post shared on Instagram, he described her as a talented singer who has entertained the nation for decades. He revealed that the stroke had not only left her physically incapacitated but also unable to meet her growing medical bills.
“Hey guys, this is Marya, our beautiful sister who has entertained us for decades. She has suffered a stroke and is unable to walk or perform any physical duties,” Eric posted.
Eric explained that all of Marya’s scheduled shows had been cancelled following her illness, worsening her financial situation.
“All her shows have been cancelled. She is the mother of two beautiful children, and she needs us now. Her bills have piled up,” Eric added.
He urged Kenyans to come together and assist her during this difficult time, emphasising that the burden of medical expenses and caring for her children had become too heavy for her to manage alone.