Joyce Wanjiru Karumba, wife of celebrated gospel DJ Krowbar, fought a courageous battle with chronic kidney disease that began unexpectedly on April 17, 2022.
What started as a routine hospital visit turned into a life-changing moment when doctors struggled to read her blood pressure, which eventually registered at a dangerous 257 over 180.
“By the time I get to the hospital, I’m one person who I’m beaten for me to take myself to the hospital,” Joyce recalled in a previous interview.
The diagnosis that followed was devastating, acute kidney injury requiring immediate dialysis.
Joyce initially struggled with acceptance, visiting multiple hospitals desperately seeking different answers.
“I went on denial mode. You’re looking for a way out and you’re trying to help God on how he will get you out of it,” she admitted.
The condition eventually progressed to chronic kidney failure, requiring dialysis twice weekly.
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.
Though she had initially shown improvement and returned home temporarily, complications arose in recent weeks requiring re-hospitalization.
The illness profoundly affected her family.
After her initial prolonged hospitalization, Joyce returned home so frail she couldn’t lift her two-year-old son, at the time.
“He came running, but I could not lift him. And I broke down because he could not understand why is mommy not picking me,” she shared.
Her daughters lived in constant fear, repeatedly asking their father if they would lose their mother.
In a February 2024 interview on TV47 ‘Love in Wild’ with Size 8 and her husband DJMo, Joyce spoke candidly about her journey, revealing her sister had agreed to be a kidney donor.
“I knew my husband loved me, but it is through this journey that I realized he kept his promise of ‘for better, for worse,'” she said.
Despite her struggles, Joyce remained an inspiration to others facing health challenges.
“It is not permanent. It’s just a season. Don’t fight it. Accept it. Don’t be ashamed of what you’re going through. This is your journey. This is your story. Embrace your story and allow God to be glorified in your story,” she stated.
She leaves behind her husband DJ Krowbar and their three children: Toria, Riri, and Imani.
The family has requested prayers and privacy as they prepare for her burial.
Her final message continues to inspire: “Your miracle will find you where you are. Don’t go chasing miracles.”
