Gospel music star Benachi has opened up about his private struggle with mental health. The artist admitted that he experienced depression following the sudden death of his close friend and musical collaborator, Peter Kaberere.
Benachi made the revelation during an interview on the popular Alex Mwakideu TV podcast.
The Lowest Moment
Benachi, famous for hits like ‘Mwanake,’ described the passing of his friend as his emotional nadir.
He admitted to feeling empty whilst trying to maintain his public life. He spoke about the difficulty of dealing with his inner turmoil.
The artist confirmed that the grief was overwhelming. He said that even now, thinking about the loss still hurts him terribly.
“My lowest moment was when Kaberere passed. Every time I think about that hiyo huniuma sana, like it hurts me so bad,” Benachi revealed.
Remembering Peter Kaberere
Peter Kaberere, a prominent gospel musician, died in a shocking accident in Nairobi. The tragic event occurred around April 7th, 2014.
Kaberere was electrocuted at his car wash. The incident was described as a freak accident. DJ Mo confirmed that a fault in the car washing machine equipment caused the electrocution.
Kaberere was widely known for his 2011 hit song ‘Kiburi ni cha nini?’. He also served as the operations manager at Mo Sound Limited, the company responsible for hosting the annual Groove Awards.
The two artists, Benachi and Kaberere, had collaborated closely. They had released the popular and timeless song ‘Mwanake’ together.
At the time of his death, Peter Kaberere was married to his wife, Njesh Kahura. She was expecting a child, and they already had one son.
Running on Empty
Benachi, who relocated to the United States approximately 11 or 12 years ago, explained that his struggles went beyond grief. He spoke candidly about feeling disconnected from his faith and purpose.
He described a period where he felt he had lost himself. The pressure of life led him to feel “empty” inside.
“So unapata you doing things but you empty”.
Benachi compared his struggle to driving a car without oil. He felt he was running his life “on empty”.
This emptiness stemmed from a lapse in his spiritual discipline. He admitted that during that period, it became difficult for him to pray, even for short durations.
“If it’s hard for me to pray even for five minutes… that means I’m not okay in the spirit”.
The musician confirmed that he eventually sought reconciliation. He confessed his struggles to his wife and asked her to help him through prayer.
Benachi is now back in the country. He is celebrating his renewed focus on music. His new song is titled ‘Rehema’.
by moses sagwe
