"Nilienda kwa wakili": DeMathew's wife accuses family of exploiting his name

This story has significance for readers across Kenya and beyond.

- Sarafina DeMathew went on a rare TikTok Live session and publicly called out a family member over an event planned in her late husband's name

- The first wife of the legendary Mugithi star accused her brother-in-law of trying to profit from DeMathew's name without her knowledge or consent

- The outburst came just days after both of DeMathew's widows led Kenyans in marking the seventh anniversary of his death

The seventh anniversary of celebrated Mugithi star John DeMathew's passing had barely been observed when fresh tension broke out in his household, this time with his first wife, Sarafina DeMathew, at the centre of it.

DeMathew passed away in a road accident along Thika Road while returning to Nairobi from a fundraiser.

He was survived by two wives: Sarafina, his first wife, and Carolyne DeMathew, his second wife.

The two women had previously clashed in court over royalty rights, a dispute that Carolyne ultimately lost.

Both women had just been visible publicly, leading tributes to honour the late singer's memory, when Sarafina took to TikTok Live in an uncharacteristic move and directed sharp words at a member of DeMathew's family.

What did Sarafina DeMathew say about his family?

The first wife accused her brother-in-law of planning an event under DeMathew's name without consulting her, alleging it was motivated by financial gain rather than genuine tribute.

"You are not supposed to do an event in John's name just to generate money without my consent. You need to understand that. There will never come a day that you will organise an event as John's family and I am not aware. Even when I die, my kids will be there," Sarafina said during the live session.

She revealed she had engaged her lawyer to write formal correspondence to all the parties involved in the event.

According to Sarafina, her brother-in-law responded through a third party, arguing that the event was meant to celebrate DeMathew's legacy and raise his profile.

She dismissed this explanation, pointing out that DeMathew had long established himself as one of the biggest names in Mugithi music well before his death.

Sarafina's words grew more personal as the live session progressed, hinting at deeper grievances with the relative she described as once being very close to her.

"Please don't make me too angry because I might expose some things that I should not. You have done things that have really hurt us. I have respected you for many years because you were the best brother that I loved," she said.

She made clear that her brother-in-law's inaction after receiving the legal letter was what pushed her to speak out publicly.

"You have been taking advantage of my silence, and you are the reason that I have come to expose this online. If you remained silent after I sent you that letter, then this would not have happened," Sarafina added.

The outburst signals that, despite years passing since DeMathew's death, disputes over how his name and legacy are handled within the family remain far from resolved.

Watch the video below:

How did Carolyne DeMathew honour her husband?

TUKO.co.ke also highlighted facts about Carolyne's heartfelt tribute, marking the seventh anniversary of her husband's tragic passing.

Her emotional remembrance sparked a wave of nostalgia among fans, many of whom still vividly recall the night they learned of the beloved Kikuyu Benga star's untimely death.

Source: TUKO.co.ke

Reporting originally appeared via TUKO. Read the full source for additional context.