Gospel singer Janet Otieno opens up about healing after battling vitiligo
By Valerian Khakayi, December 15, 2025Veteran gospel singer Janet Otieno has opened up about her painful journey with vitiligo, a condition that affected her at the peak of her ministry and nearly pushed her out of music.
Speaking during a candid conversation with a local media station, Janet said it all began around 2018 or 2019 when she was doing well in her ministry but suddenly noticed unusual changes in her body.
At the time, she says, she did not understand what vitiligo was.
“Some years back, I think it was around 2018 or 2019, I was really at the peak of my ministry and then kuna ugonjwa inaitwa vitiligo na nilikuwa sijaielewa.Ilinipiga nikaanza kupata patches kwa mwili,” Janet revealed.
“I used to see it on people. I used to wonder hii kitu inatoka wapi, lakini sikuwa nimepata jibu.”
She recalled attending a gospel event where the seat she was given had a mirror in front of her. That is when she first noticed a white patch on her face.
“Nakumbuka nilienda event ya one of the gospel ministers and where I was seated, niliwekwa kwa kiti yenye iko na mirror mbele yangu so I saw something ya white on my face nikasema ‘ninaona nini?’ nikasongea kwa kio,” she said.
The following morning, the situation worsened. She woke up to find her body dotted with white patches, including her face and lower lip. A visit to the doctor confirmed her fears.
“So wakati nilimaliza event I went back home na wakati nilienda kutake shower nikaona white things zikoo kwa my body. The next morning, niliamka nkapata my body iko dotted my face, my lower lip, and when I went to the doctor, akaniambia hiyo ni ugonjwa inaitwa Vitiligo,” she added.
Emotional struggles
Janet admitted that the diagnosis deeply affected her emotionally. She struggled to accept it, and the condition took a toll on her confidence and ministry.
For three years, Janet battled the condition in silence. She said it became difficult to serve in ministry and even shoot music videos because of how much vitiligo had affected her.
“Hiyo kitu ilinisumbua na because I refused to accept it iliniweka chini, I remember that year I never had even a song release, I down nilikuwa nalia nyumbani, and I could decline invitations for ministries,” Janet disclosed.
“Ilinisumbua kabisa for three years ata singeweza kufanya huduma ata music video nilikuwa na sumbuka sana.”
Healing process
After years of struggle, she finally found help through a doctor, but she believes her healing was more than medical.
“I thank God Mungu alinisaidia after three years ya kusumbukana nilipata usaidizi, where by kuna daktari mmoja alinisaidia, mimi sometimes si semi ni daktari tu that one ilichukua mkono wa mungu for me to heal,” she added.
Although the doctor had told her the condition would not go away completely, Janet says she has experienced significant healing, with only a few patches remaining.
“The doctor told me haitaisha lakini sahi imeisha imebakisha kidogo in few places,” Janet stated.