Gospel singer Daddy Owen has postponed his annual Malaika Disability walk event that was scheduled to take place on December, 3th.
Through his social media pages, Owen said the walk had been cancelled due to the tragic death of his first cousin Stephen Sunrise Osedo who will be laid to rest on that same day.
Owen's cousin was shot dead by a cop officer in Umoja two weeks ago.
"Due to unavoidable circumstances, we had to postpone the MALAIKA DISABILITY WALK 2022 that was slated for the 3rd of Dec which is WORLD DISABILITY DAY! D the burial will be on the same date (Dec 3rd) at the same time so many Primary schools have requested participation for the WALK, hence changing the date to MARCH 4TH 2023. We call for your full support and we are very sorry to all the partners who had come on board already.#MalaikaDisabilityWalk2023."
Malaika event was started in 2012 to recognize unsung heroes by the singer. In December 2021, Owen shared how the idea of starting the ceremony came about.
"In 2012, I did my song 'Mbona' featuring Denno, and while doing a tour around Kenya, we met several people in the country," he said.
"I met a young man who was an engineer but he was in a wheelchair. The guy challenged me."
After he came back to Nairobi, he approached the National Council for Persons with Disabilities.
"It was amazing to find people who are doing so much despite their disability. Each year, we get 10 winners, each going with 100k cheques," he said.
"They use the money for the best. We have had great stories, we have awarded different personalities in the country."
Owen recounted how the event reminds him of the stigma he went through after he lost one of his eyes in 2002.
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