Kanyari vs Gitau: Is child custody feud tearing apart Betty Bayo’s family?
The death of gospel singer Betty Bayo on November 10, 2025, has brought forth a tense public drama over who will care for her children.
At the centre of the unfolding conflict is a custody battle between her ex-husband, Pastor Victor Kanyari, and her widower, Hiram Gitau alias Tash.
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Pastor Kanyari has publicly declared his intention to take full custody of his two children, Sky and Dany, whom he shares with the late Bayo. Speaking amid media attention, he defended his role as a devoted parent.
“I am a good father. I may not be a good husband, but I am a good father,” he said. He added that he has consistently supported his children, paying school fees and ensuring they have never lacked.
“I love Sky and Dany, and they will live a better life than where they were living,” he stated.
To support his claim as a capable parent, Kanyari revealed that he has identified a Ksh90 million mansion in Runda for him and the children. He said the house has enough space and even a swimming pool, a place he envisions for the children to grow, rest, and thrive.
In raw, emotional moments since Bayo’s death, Kanyari has expressed frustration over what he calls a rush by others to share his children. He accused some people of leveraging the tragedy to claim custody while the family is still grieving.
“People have come out, dividing up my children. Their mum is no more, and now they want to take my kids away from me,” he said.
At the same time, Kanyari emphasised that he does not want to completely cut Tash out of his children’s lives. He recognised Tash’s role during Bayo’s life, pointing out that he lived with the children and cared for them, and said Tash will have visiting rights once custody is settled.
On his part, Hiram “Tash” Gitau, who married Betty Bayo after she parted ways with Kanyari, has made an emotional public commitment to the children. At Bayo’s memorial service, he embraced Sky and Dany in front of mourners and referred to them as his own. In his tribute, Tash pledged to protect the children, honour Betty’s dreams for them, and give them love and security.
The custody fight has drawn public scrutiny, especially after Kanyari’s brother made emotionally charged remarks, urging Kanyari to assume full custody and saying it was impossible to co-parent with another man. Many Kenyans criticised these comments as disrespectful to Tash, who has been a father figure to the children.
Blood thicker than water?
At this point, no lawsuit or final court ruling has been publicly announced. Meanwhile, both Kanyari and Tash seem committed to playing major roles in Sky and Dany’s lives, though in very different ways. Kanyari argues for biological and legal responsibility, while Tash leans on emotional bonds and years of shared daily life.
At the heart of this struggle are two young lives who have lost their mother and now face uncertainty about their future. This battle, as public as it has become, could risk tearing the family apart at a time when they should be coming together as one for the sake of the children. Sky and Dany need love, stability, and unity, not division.
It will be heartbreaking to see grief turn into conflict, and one cannot help but wonder if all parties will find a way to put aside differences and focus on the well-being of the children.
