In a heartbreaking update for the Kenyan entertainment community, veteran decks master DJ Krowbar (Fredrick Karumba) has announced the passing of his wife, Joyce Wanjiru Karumba.
The news, which broke on January 26, 2026, marks the end of a long, courageous battle with kidney failure, a journey the couple shared transparently with their fans for over two years.
Love tested by fire
The Krowbars’ story has been one of the most poignant examples of in sickness and in health in the Kenyan limelight. Joyce was diagnosed with kidney failure in 2022, shortly after the birth of their third child, Imani, a pregnancy that was itself a journey of faith after Imani was born prematurely at 34 weeks.
Throughout 2023 and 2024, the couple became the face of resilience. DJ Krowbar frequently updated followers on the toll of dialysis, at one point sharing an emotional video of Joyce on a life-saving machine, admitting it took him months to find the courage to post it.
A second chance
In late 2023, the family launched a massive public appeal to raise approximately KES 9 million for a life-saving kidney transplant. The campaign saw an outpouring of love from the Kenyan diaspora and local celebrities alike.
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In a move that touched the nation, Joyce’s sister, Mercy Wambio Kuria, stepped forward as a potential donor, telling media outlets at the time, “I give her my kidney, or she dies; she is my final hope.”
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By early 2024, Krowbar had expressed optimism, stating that the end was in sight and praising God for the progress Joyce was making.
The legacy of Wanjiru
Beyond being DJ Krowbar’s wife, Joyce was a celebrated fashion designer and a pillar of the Gospel entertainment scene. She was instrumental in the family’s move to South Africa and their subsequent return to Kenya, always maintaining her own identity and professional drive despite the shadow of her husband’s fame.
Public tributes
Social media has been flooded with tributes from industry peers who witnessed Krowbar’s unwavering devotion.
Joyce leaves behind her husband and their three children: daughters Toriah and Riri, and their son, Imani.
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