Rachel Wandeto, the gospeal artiste who was reportedly doused in petrol and set ablaze for tattooing President William Ruto’s face, has sucumbed to her injuries.

Wandeto died on Monday, May 18 morning while undergoing treatment at the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) following the brutal attack by unknown individuals in Mwiki, Nairobi.

She had sustained up to 70% burns.

The unfortunate death comes just hours after Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen and Inspector General of Police (IG) Douglas Kanja paid her a visit to the hospital.

Preliminary reports indicating that the attack on Wandeto was politically instigated.

Murkomen regrets

CS Murkomen has regretted the incident, insisting that no one deserves to be injured or killed for their political views or affiliation.

“It should prick the conscience of those propagating politics of hate, violence and division,” Murkomen said. “When I visited Rachel in the hospital last evening, her face showed resilience and courage. It is quite unfortunate that she lost the fight.”

The CS further vowed to bring all the perpetrators of the “senseless act” to book. “I wish to express my heartfelt condolences to her family and friends for this painful loss. The government stands with you in this time of immense grief.”

What happened?

The incident reportedly came days after Wandeto had publicly declared her support for President Ruto’s re-election bid in 2027. She coupled this with tattooing President Ruto’s portrait on her chest along with the statement “TUTAM” (two terms).

These moves are said to have placed Wandeto on a collision path with her friends and relatives.

On the fateful day (May 15, 2026 along Obama Road), three masked men reportedly accosted her and demanded that she gives them money they claimed she got from President Ruto for supporting him.

When she implored to them that she had nothing, they doused her with petrol and set her hair on fire before fleeing. She suffered critical burns on her legs, torso, face, arms and other areas. She was first rushed to Uzima Uhai Hospital before being transferred to KNH.

Dennis Itumbi, the Head of Presidential Special Projects and Creative Economy Coordination, said Wandeto did not deserve the hate, the pressure and the hostility she got in her last days simply for supporting President Ruto.

“Today we mourn not just an artist, but a daughter, a friend, a believer, and a human being whose only “crime” was expressing her political choice openly,” Itumbi said.

He added: “Kenya must never become a place where artists are punished, isolated, or targeted because they think differently politically.”

President Ruto mourns Wandeto

President Ruto, a few minutes before publishing this story, also released a statement on his X account, condemning the whole incident.

“May God grant the family and friends comfort, peace, and courage to bear with the loss of Ms Rachel Wandetto.”

Ruto vowed that the criminals responsible for the attack would be held to account, “irrespective of their political affiliation”.

“Kenya has no place for political intolerance that suppresses free speech or association. This threatens our democratic stability,” he added.