Kenyan comedian and content creator DJ Shiti left mourners visibly shaken at his father's burial on October 9, 2026, delivering a passionate and deeply personal address that has since gone viral across social media. His father, Richard Ndede Banda, passed away after battling prostate cancer for close to six years, during which the family made repeated hospital visits in search of treatment and relief.
Speaking beside his father's casket at an open-air funeral gathering, DJ Shiti reflected on how exhausting and heartbreaking the journey had been, with his father going back and forth between hospitals without ever receiving the kind of care the family had hoped for. He pointed to a troubling pattern he said he had witnessed firsthand: patients arriving at public hospitals only to be put on machines and then asked by medical staff to raise money for their own treatment.
DJ Shiti questioned the effectiveness of the Social Health Authority, asking whether it was actually delivering on its promises. "SHA inafanya kweli ama ni mchezo?" he said, his voice cracking as he spoke. He also acknowledged the staff at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, leading mourners in applause for the medical team that had looked after his father, noting that they had stayed consistent throughout the long treatment period.
However, his overall message was blunt: outside the mortuary, he felt that very little at public hospitals was functioning as it should. "Ukipeleka mtu kwa public hospital saa hizi ni kama unapeleka aende afe," he said. He also acknowledged that those with private insurance or the means to afford private hospitals stood a far better chance, leaving those without those options largely on their own.
The video of DJ Shiti's funeral address quickly went viral, drawing a flood of reactions from Kenyans who said his words hit close to home. Many social media users shared their own experiences with the healthcare system, with some expressing frustration and others offering support. Some users pointed out that the issues with the healthcare system were more complex than just the Social Health Authority.
DJ Shiti's father, Richard Ndede Banda, passed away on September 17, 2026, after a battle with prostate cancer. DJ Shiti shared an emotional video tribute celebrating his late father's life and expressing hope that cancer will one day be defeated. He also provided a till number for well-wishers to support his family and help them give their dad a befitting send-off.
The outpouring of support and reaction to DJ Shiti's speech highlights the deep-seated concerns many Kenyans have about the country's healthcare system. While some users defended the Social Health Authority, others acknowledged that there were indeed challenges that needed to be addressed. The conversation is likely to continue in the days and weeks to come.
Key points
- DJ Shiti questioned the effectiveness of the Social Health Authority in his father's eulogy.
- The comedian's speech went viral, sparking a conversation about Kenya's healthcare system.
- DJ Shiti's father passed away after a six-year battle with prostate cancer.
