‘Most hated woman’: Justina Syokau recalls time people said she was cause of COVID-19

Gospel singer Justina Syokau has recalled how her rise to fame was followed by intense online ridicule and accusations that she was somehow responsible for the arrival of COVID-19 in Kenya.

In an emotional account shared on Facebook on Sunday, September 6, 2026, Syokau said she had spent years praying and fasting for her music career to take off before what she describes as her breakthrough finally arrived.

Her journey, she recalled, included a decade-long music anniversary celebration that brought together church leaders, politicians, friends, fellow musicians and thousands of supporters.

Syokau said the event was made possible through the support of people and institutions who believed in her music, including Rev Lucy Natasha’s Miracle Money congregation, which she says helped raise money for the celebration.

“Most hated woman on social media. I used to pray, fast, stay in prayer centre telling God ,I need my music star to shine. Then I did very big event to celebrate my 10yrs anniversary Rev Lucy Natasha miracle money congregation raised all the money we needed for event,so we got tents , P A system, food thanks mama, Governor wavinya came with her son ,I was sitted next to her in the vip I was so happy she supported me with alot of money, at mua hills, Kalonzo send wavinya and also called spoke to the people who came to celebrate me, Sonko governor send many of his workers with alot of money,” she wrote.

She specifically linked the breakthrough to a prayer by Rev Lucy Natasha, whom she said had previously prayed that God would give her a song that would change her destiny.

Syokau said she and her supporters celebrated what they saw as the fulfilment of that prayer.

“That in 2019 we had prayed in our church, my star to shine. Rev Lucy Natasha September remembered that she prayed that God would give me one song to change my destiny. So, after celebrating the 10-year anniversary. On Dec 4th, 2019. I went to Studio 8th. I did a Christmas song called Kilisimasi,” she recalled.

Then came the COVID-19 pandemic.

The singer says that as the virus spread and public anxiety grew, she became the target of online accusations and abuse.

According to her account, some Kenyans began blaming her for the pandemic, with claims circulating on social media that she was the person who had brought COVID-19 to Kenya.

“Then COVID came. Everyone blamed me for covid; people started cursing me, saying I am the one who brought covid in, Kenya,” she said.

The accusations, she said, turned what had been the happiest period of her career into a painful experience.

She described spending many days crying as the attention surrounding her music changed from celebration to hostility.

The singer said she even considered quitting social media because of the abuse.

“I cried most of my days; the blessing God gave me started turning into sorrow. I think a lot of people who abuse me and bully me don’t know if they hurt me. I needed to quit social media, thank God,” she recalled.

It was at that point, she says, that Rev Lucy Natasha encouraged her not to abandon the platforms that had helped her music reach a wider audience.

Syokau said the pastor urged her to continue singing despite the criticism.

“Rev. Lucy Natasha encouraged me and told my daughter, ‘Social media, you cannot leave. Continue singing and I continued and am happy to have never given up, no matter the hate. I thought after fame people would love me, but it was the opposite, but I thank God for answering prayers,” she added.

Despite the online attacks, she continued releasing music and engaging with her audience.

Looking back, Syokau says she initially believed that becoming famous would automatically make people love her.

Instead, she discovered that increased visibility could also bring unprecedented criticism.

She now describes the experience as part of the price of fame.

“I thought after fame people would love me but it was the opposite,” she said, while expressing gratitude that her prayers for recognition had nevertheless been answered.

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