April 12, 2026

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Why De’Mathew Quarreled With Mike Rua Hours Before His Death

Few hours before Kikuyu benga artist John De’Mathew perished in a road accident near the Blue Post Hotel, Thika road he had an argument of sort with one-man-guitar Mike Rua.

Both were attending a fundraiser for fellow musician Peter Kigia’s sick daughter at a hotel in Thika town.

Rua has now confessed he was scolded by the late musician over his naughty songs and their talk to many people attending the event appeared like a quarrel.

“We had a talk which was more of a joke. De’Mathew told me my songs are dirty and that I should change. He just reprimanded me as my music father” Rua said in a recent youtube interview.

The King of Mugithi is known for his songs laced with lewd lyrics, loved by his fans and loathed by other people.

He said De’Mathew got angry with him when a fan asked him to sing and when Rua took the stage he he thundered his usual naughty lyrics.

“I was drunk. Had taken alcohol the entire previous night and was continuing to drink. When a fan asked for a song from me I did my version which I only do late at nights. De’Mathew was not happy because there were respectable guests around” he confessed.

The vehicle De’Mathew was involved in accident with.

De’Mathew advised him to cease doing such songs during the daytime and as Rua defended his action ended up in an argument of a kind.

“He told me that the day I would be happy is when I will realise they way I sing should not be the way I should but I insisted I will continue doing the naughty versions. We argued” Rua said in the interview.

He insisted it was just a bar talk and not a serious exchange of words.

Rua says the argument was not serious one.

After the accident Rua told journalists that he had a long talk with De’Mathew that day and Baba shiku as he was popularly called was emotional and wept.

“The last moments he was crying. I don’t know what was the problem because we had talked about some issues. We had some controversies here and there” Rua was quoted.

De’Mathew burial in Gatanga. [Photo: Courtesy]

He insisted De’Mathew was his close friend till the last day and no way they could have an ugly squabble.