President Ruto mourns ‘Sipangwingwi’ hit producer
President William Ruto expressed his condolences for the passing of Byron Muhando Kivisi, known as Byron Beatgod, renowned for producing ‘Sipangwingwi’ hit.
In a statement released on September 21, President Ruto described the late producer as a remarkably talented young man known for his calm and collected demeanour.
Ruto recounted his first meeting with Byron during a recording session for an altered version of the popular ‘Sipangwingwi’ song at the Deputy President’s residence, popularly known as ‘Hustler Mansion’ in Karen.
“Deeply saddened by the death of music producer and artist Byron Muhando Kivisi. Byron was first introduced to me by music sensation Xray during a music recording session of the hit song Sipangwingwi at the Deputy President’s residence in Karen,” read part of President Ruto’s statement.
President Ruto extended his sympathies to Byron Kivisi’s family and fans, acknowledging that his passing came at a young age. He also reassured that Byron’s artistic legacy would endure.
During the presidential campaign, Ruto released a modified version of the song, still produced by Byron and featuring Exray, as ‘Hatupangwingwi’, after the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) listed the phrase ‘Sipangwingwi’ as one of the hate speech terms. The Kenya Kwanza camp decided to adopt the phrase as their signature campaign slogan.
Byron’s cause of death remains undisclosed, with the news of his passing surfacing on September 18, 2023.
Friends, family, and fans took to social media to mourn his loss, describing him as a kind, passionate, and ambitious individual.