The burial of Joyce Karumba, wife of DJ Krowbar, was marked by heartfelt tributes from family and friends who remembered her as a loving, generous woman who touched countless lives.
DJ Krowbar’s mother spoke warmly about the special bond she shared with her daughter-in-law, describing how Joyce always called her mum and treated her with exceptional care.
She recalled how even during her illness, Joyce would cook for her whenever she visited, demonstrating her selfless nature until the very end.
“She has left a big gap and big shoes for anyone to fill. I know she was the best match for my son. She was loved by everyone in the family. I had prayed to God to give me a loving daughter and He gave me Joy. Having Joy was a great gift to my family. She was a Proverbs 31 woman,” Krowbar’s mother said.
Richard Ng’atia, DJ Krowbar’s father, fondly remembered being on the receiving end of Joyce’s excellent cooking skills.
He joked about how despite being from central Kenya, she didn’t prepare her food with excessive water as is sometimes stereotypical of the region.
He expressed that they didn’t have enough time with her, adding that wherever she is now, she must be joyous.
“I was a beneficiary of Joy’s cooking. Althought she was from the Murima, she did not prepare hers like that, ‘with a lot of water.’ I don’t think we had enough time with Joy. The Lord gives, the Lord takeths and I know wherever she is she is joyous,” Richard said.
Gospel musician Pitson, who was discovered by DJ Krowbar, shared a touching memory of how he would always tell Joyce that her husband changed his life.
He recalled how she would smile warmly and respond that Krowbar had changed her life too.
“Not to forget that it was DJ Krowbar that discovered Pitson and everytime I said to Joy ‘your husband changed my life.’ Joy would smile and say ‘and mine too,’ Pitson stated.
The couple’s three daughters each shared precious memories of their mother.
Toria, the firstborn, spoke about her mother’s cooking, especially her tea which she described as the best.
She shared her most treasured memory of the last time her mother came home for just one day.
Joyce had chosen to rest on the couch wrapped in Toria’s blanket instead of her own, creating an image that Toria says she will never forget.
“The memory I will keep forever, is the last time mum came home. She was only back for one day, she was lying on the couch in the sitting room. We all have our own blankets and honestly mum’s was the best of them all but that day she chose to cover herself with my blanket. Seeing her rest wrapped up with my blanket, that is a picture I will never forget,” Toria said, paying tribute to her mother that she called her twin.
Riri, the second-born daughter, expressed gratitude to everyone who attended the service, calling their presence selfless.
“I just want to say a big thank you for all of you coming, that is so selfless of you,” she expressed.
Meanwhile, Imani, the lastborn, promised to honor her mother’s memory by wearing African fashion, which Joyce loved, and looking the way her mother wanted them to look.
“My mum loved African fashion and I am going to wear them and look how she wanted us to look. I am going to miss my mum,” he said.
In an emotional tribute, DJ Krowbar began by jokingly clarifying that his children don’t live in the United States and their good English comes from attending school in Gachie.
“Nataka tu kusema hawa watoto hawaishi U.S. Hiyo kizungu ni ya Gachie,” Krowbar jokingly started after being welcomed to give his tribute to his wife.
Fighting back tears, he shared how today morning (day of the burial), his eldest daughter Toria had picked out a pair of earrings she had never worn and asked if her mother could wear them. When he saw Joyce, she was indeed wearing those earrings.
“Today morning my eldest (Toriah) picked a pair of earrings that she had never worn and she asked me daddy can mum wear these earrings. Today when I saw her she was wearing those earrings. I am going to miss this woman, I am going to miss this girl,” DJ Krowbar teared.
“I am going to miss this woman, I am going to miss this girl,” Krowbar said.
He expressed gratitude to his father for approving Joyce’s burial in Naro Moru, Nyeri, a place she deeply loved.
“This woman is going to rest here seeing Mount Kenya as that’s what she wanted to see,” he explained.
The DJ thanked the men standing behind him for supporting him through both his highest moments and now his lowest, calling himself blessed to have such friends.
“To these men behind me, thank you so much. You have seen me in my highest and now at my lowest, and you are still here with me. I am blessed with these. God bless you gentlemen all the days of your life,” DJ Krowbar stated.
He concluded by acknowledging that the day marked the beginning of a new chapter in his life and asked for prayers for his family and community as they navigate this difficult season and grieve his wife properly.
“Today is the beginning new chapter of my life. Pray for my family, pray for my community that we have grace to maneuver this new season and for us to grieve my wife well. Asante,” DJ Krowbar concluded.
Sadly, Joyce passed away in the early hours of Monday, January 26, 2026, at around 3 a.m., following complications from a kidney transplant performed mid-2025.
