Kenyan songstress Akothee on Saturday, July 4, spoke out following the death of Churchill comedian Joseph Musyoki Kivindu popularly known as Kasee.
Taking to social media, the vocal artiste described the incident as sad and avoidable adding that had she known she would have been in a position to assist.
"I have just learned today that this guy Kasee did not even have a place to stay. Renting him a house for Ksh5,000 per month would not make me broke. I am totally broken today, I do not know the cause of his death, he must have died a lonely fighting spirit," she posted on her Instagram page.
She went further to urge other struggling artistes not to suffer in silence, rather reach her and she would be able to assist.
"Please, to all celebrities who can't afford their lives right now, inbox me. I can provide food and accommodation until the pandemic passes. Don't struggle only to die when your careers are taking off," she added.
In a separate post, Akothee disclosed that a comedian had reached out to her after being kicked out of his house.
"As we are talking right now, there is a comedian sleeping in a hall, kicked out from his house, I don't know how long he has been sleeping there with this Nairobi cold," she conveyed.
In response, she sent him the rent arrears so that he could have a place to sleep for the coming months.
"People are suffering. I will call a few government officials who are my friends and see if they can assist me with something I top up with what I have and see if we can save the celebrities who are not able to feed themselves for now," she added.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, artists have found themselves without commercial outlets for their work as galleries, auction houses, theatres, music venues, and art fairs remain closed.
The Ministry of Sports, Culture, and Heritage launched the “Work For Pay” Kshs100 million stimulus package for artists, actors, and musicians at the Kenya Cultural Centre.
This was in line with the Executive Order issued by H.E President Uhuru Kenyatta on April 6, 2020, directing the Sports, Arts and Social Development Fund to avail Kshs100 million to cushion those in the creative industry during the period of the Covid-19 pandemic.
However, on June 30, a section of Kenyan artistes appealed to President Uhuru Kenyatta over what they termed as lack of transparency of the funds as not many people had gained from the initiative.
