The doctor who was treating celebrated gospel singer Betty Bayo has revealed the harrowing medical struggle that preceded her untimely death, describing how the late artiste’s body began attacking itself under the devastating effects of acute myeloid leukaemia (AML).

Speaking at the Blue Springs hotel on Thursday, November 13, 2025, Doctor Nderitu Wangui, who was part of the team attending to Betty in her final days, recounted that the ordeal began in the early hours when hospital staff urgently requested a blood appeal.

Nderitu said they initially needed only three pints of blood to manage her platelet levels, but at that stage, the exact diagnosis had not yet been confirmed.

“I am Dr. Nderitu Wangui. I want to share a simple account of how we reached this point and how much we tried before we lost Betty. I received a call very early in the morning from the people taking Betty to the hospital, requesting a blood appeal. Initially, we needed only three pints of blood for her platelets. At that moment, we did not yet have a diagnosis, and I want to be honest about that,” the doctor said.

Aggressive condition

According to the doctor, AML is a deceptive and aggressive condition, and by the time the first symptoms, like fatigue or headaches, appear, the blood levels have already dropped significantly.

He revealed that, in Betty’s case, the disease had already progressed to stage four, a point of bone marrow failure, when the first transfusion was performed.

“The reason is that AML, acute myeloid leukaemia, is a disease where the first symptoms, usually fatigue and headaches, appear only after blood levels have dropped significantly. By that time, the cancer has already progressed through stages one, two, and three, and the patient is essentially at stage four, which is the point of bone marrow failure,” Nderitu added.

Doctor Nderitu revealed that while the initial blood transfusion was successful and Betty was temporarily discharged, her condition deteriorated rapidly later that same day.

He explained that by 9 pm, she had been admitted to the nearest hospital, AAR Hospital on Kiambu Road, as her health worsened.

“When we performed the first transfusion, it went well, and Betty was discharged temporarily. However, later at 9 pm, her condition worsened, and she was admitted to the nearest hospital, AAR.”

Nderitu then said that despite reassurances from the blood bank that at least nine pints of blood would be available, the medical team faced severe shortages.

He noted that one dose of platelets requires six litres of blood, equivalent to what a single donor can provide.

“We wondered where the blood from the first transfusion had gone. The blood bank assured us we would get at least nine pints of blood. One dose of platelets requires six litres of blood, which is what one donor can give,” he shared.

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The doctor revealed that the hospital staff coordinated a continuous cycle of donors, blood processing, and direct transfusions in an effort to sustain Betty’s life.

According to Nderitu, it was only during these intensive interventions that the medical team confirmed she was battling acute myeloid leukaemia.

He added that by 3 am, her bone marrow had stopped producing sufficient platelets, and her body had effectively entered an autoimmune state, consuming even the few platelets that were produced.

“It reached a point where we could not sustain the blood supply in the hospital. We were constantly bringing donors, processing the blood through a machine, and transfusing it directly to Betty. By 3 am, we confirmed that she had AML. Her bone marrow had stopped producing platelets, and even the few that were produced were being consumed by her body in an autoimmune response. At that stage, her body had effectively started feeding on itself,” the doctor explained.

Untimely demise

Betty Bayo, renowned for her hit song “Busy Busy,” succumbed to the disease on Monday, November 10, 2025, at 1:03 pm, at the private wing of Kenyatta National Hospital.

Her family described the loss as the will of God, noting that she had been transferred from AAR Hospital to Kenyatta National Hospital when her condition worsened.