How performing at Betty Bayo’s burial meeting revived Rose Wa Father’s music career
Gospel singer and pastor Rose Wa Father has seen her music career experience a remarkable resurgence, thanks to her song ‘Irai Thũ Ciakwa’, which has become a viral sensation on TikTok.
Social media users across Kenya are using the song as the soundtrack to their own videos, sharing clips of daily life, celebrations, and personal moments, with the powerful lyrics striking a chord on a deeply emotional level.
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Searches for Rose Wa Father have surged online as fans and new listeners alike try to learn more about the singer behind the inspiring song.
Many TikTok users have described it as the “song of the year,” promising to include it in their Christmas get-togethers, while others have reshared the track countless times, amplifying its reach beyond the gospel music community.
The song gained this traction after Rose Wa Father performed it at the burial planning meeting of the late gospel singer Betty Bayo on November 18, 2025, held at Blue Springs Hotel.
During the live session, led by Shiru Wa GP, she moved from one end of the dais to the other, performing from the heart and guiding the audience to rise and sing along, creating a powerful and emotional experience for everyone present.
‘Irai Thũ Ciakwa’, which translates to ‘Tell This to My Enemies’, struck a chord with attendees and viewers alike because of its powerful message of resilience and hope.
The song reflects the journey of rising above difficulties, overcoming setbacks, and holding onto faith even when life seems to weigh heavily. Its lyrics speak to the inner strength that grows even when the body feels weak, and it encourages listeners to never remain defeated, no matter how many times they fall.
The first stanza of ‘Irai Thũ Ciakwa’ goes like this:
Nokuoneke ta mwĩrĩ ũyũ wakwa ũtare hinya,
Hĩndĩ ũria wa theinie ageaga hinya mũthenya,
No gũtarwo magwa makwa makĩnye mũgwanja,
ũhoro nĩ atĩ ndĩetora thĩĩ nonderegama.
which loosely translates to: “It may seem as if my body does not have strength, but my inner spirit grows stronger every day. The times I have fallen may even be seven if counted, but the message is that I will never remain fallen; I will stand.”
The chorus further goes like this:
ĩrai thũ ciakwa itigathekere rĩgĩ,
ona monagwete nie no ndĩrũgama rĩgĩ,
Hallelujah tondũ nĩnjũĩ mũnyũmbĩ e muoyo,
Na mũthenya wa mũico we no-arĩrũgama.
loosely translating to: “Tell my enemies to stop laughing at me again, because even if I have fallen, I know I will rise again. Hallelujah, because I know my Maker is alive, and on the last day, He will manifest.”
The song, originally released in 2020, had garnered relatively few views on YouTube prior to Betty Bayo’s passing, but it has since skyrocketed in popularity and currently boasts 212,000 views on the platform.
Rose Wa Father is also the voice behind other powerful Kikuyu gospel songs, including ‘O Kuukuu’, ‘Tutingihuka’, ‘Uhiki Uyu’, and ‘Ngai Niararirikana’, among several others.
Author
Steve Ireri
Steve is a senior writer with over four years of experience in digital journalism. His focus is on the showbiz and human interest stories. Emails: [email protected] , [email protected]
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