Boniface Mwangi Releases Never Before Seen Photos Of The Late Achieng Abura With Son Prince (PHOTO GALLERY)

Piece by: Grace Kerongo
InPictures

Controversial social activist Boniface Mwangi has added his voice to those paying tribute to Kenya's iconic singer, Achieng Abura.

In a long post Boniface pens a moving message for our fallen legend Achieng Abura.

She was as old as her country Kenya ,53 years old. Her death was untimely but her problems like for most artists were not surprising. Kenyans loved to watch and listen to her perform but would not buy her music. I met her for the first time 10 years ago, in 2006 while on assignment for The Standard newspaper. I don't remember what the story was about. We would later meet at events. Last year after the Garissa Massacre we did a call out for Kenyan artists to come perform at concert to honour the terror victims. She did not see the call but she showed up to perform. She did a powerful performance of, "We shall overcome", and that's the last time we met in person.

Sometime this year she called me to complain about the issues affecting our country and asked how we could work together in engaging young people. When you're broke, and sick you realize this country has no safety nets for the poor. You are on your own. We had a long telephone conversation where she shared a few radical ideas. She also sought to know why I was not in elective politics; to which I gave a satisfactory answer. Our conversation that day was characterised by lots of laughter, little did I know that would be the last time we spoke.

Achieng Abura died on 20th October, on heroes’ day. As a country we failed to celebrate her musical genius but very characteristic of us, we hail her as a heroine in her death. She is dead and all our love and adoration won't bring her back. I believe we can do something that will make her smile from the heavens.

When I met Achieng for the first time, she was with her son, Prince. I photographed them goofing around, smiling, sharing that pure mother and son love. I have never shared some of those photos publicly, here they are for the first time. Achieng died while still trying to raise money for her 23 year old son treatment for Sickle Cell Anaemia and heart condition.

"I never post medical appeals even for my own relatives. I have broken that rule, because here is a chance to turn all the love we have for Achieng to give a new lease of life to her only son. Prince's mum is no more but we can direct all the love we had for her and support her son."

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President Kenyatta said Achieng's death was a deep loss to Kenya and I hope his government will help Prince and many other Kenyans out by fully enacting and respecting Article 43 of the constitution.

43. (1) Every person has the right—

(a) to the highest attainable standard of health, which includes the right to health care services, including reproductive health care;

(b) to accessible and adequate housing, and to reasonable standards of sanitation;

(c) to be free from hunger, and to have adequate food of acceptable quality;

(d) to clean and safe water in adequate quantities;

(e) to social security; and

(f) to education.

(2) A person shall not be denied emergency medical treatment.

(3) The State shall provide appropriate social security to persons who are unable to support themselves and their dependents.

To Save Prince's life- M-Pesa Paybill: 891300 Account: Abura

Rest in power Achieng Abura. #BMUnBounded #TeamCourage"

Boniface who was an entertainment photographer before he changed careers into activism, had a photoshoot with Achieng Abura and her son Prince.

Check out the photos below.