Top renowned radio personality Jamby Koikai has succumbed to endometriosis disease. Endometriosis is a disease linked to menstrual health.
The once a household name, Fyah Mummah (Fire Mama) had suffered a long battle with the disease. Her demise that was confirmed by family came barely three days after she publicly appealed for blood donation after she was admitted in a hospital.
“Hi fam, I’m currently admitted at the Pioneer ward, Nairobi hospital and I kindly need Blood O positive. Kindly asking for blood donors for Mary Njambi Koikai,” she wrote.
Koikai pained her strong followers and fan-base after she explained her own struggles with the disease, detailing how misplaced endometrial tissue caused her lungs to collapse monthly and that required several surgeries. She revealed the 17 years it took to get a diagnosis and the lack of treatment options readily available in Kenya.
In a heartfelt message on her social media days ago, Koikai appealed to Kenyan leaders, specifically President William Ruto who was scheduled to visit the US. She urged him to consider investing in healthcare facilities specialising in treatment.
Koikai, in a brave manner revealed that the misplaced tissue had spread to her teeth, heart, appendix, and spine. She also spoke out about the impact of endometriosis and adenomyosis on fertility.
Indeed, Koikai’s final message served as a call to action, raising awareness for the millions of Kenyan women suffering with Endometriosis in silence. She urged President Ruto to visit specific healthcare facilities in the US specialising in endometriosis treatment during his visit.
He fans posted; “Rest well, Jahmby Koikai. You fought endometriosis until the very end. Endometriosis didn’t win—you only rested. The media fraternity will greatly miss you. Your legacy of excellence, advocacy, and compassion will continue to inspire and uplift us all,”
Last tweets;
I a series of her last tweets, Jahmby posted;
This is a sincere and heartfelt call of help to a few Kenyan leaders but allow me to address this to President @WilliamsRuto, first as he makes his state visit to the US. Mr President, one of the thematic areas in your visit is investment in health,”
“Atlanta, Georgia is a dream city for every young girl and woman who has ever battled this horrific disease called Endometriosis. Therein lies a centre dedicated to restoring the lives of young girls and women who are crippled by this disease,”
“Endometriosis is tissue similar to the lining of the uterus growing on other organs. In simple terms, ni wakati tunapopata hedhi, ama periods, we shed the lining of the uterus. Unfortunately, with Endometriosis that lining grows on other parts of the body,”
“In my case that lining grew on my lungs, causing my lungs to collapse every month and countless number of surgeries. It took me 17 years to get a diagnosis. The damage caused due to late diagnosis and lack of treatment in our country,”
“1 in 10 women are battling Endometriosis worldwide. The numbers are staggering. Due to our traditions and taboos, young girls and women are shamed to believe that period pain is normal. Period pain is not normal,”
[The late Radio personality ‘Reggae Queen’ Mary Njambi Koikai famously known as ‘Fire Mama’. she succumbed to Endometriosis. Photo/courtesy/June, 04, 24].
“It would be a game-changer for the Kenyan delegation to visit the Center For Endometriosis Care in Atlanta, Georgia. Send our gynaecologists, pulmonogists, since time immemorial, our aunties, grandmother’s and relatives were ostracised by the community due to infertility. It’s taken generations for us to debunk these myths and diseases like Endometriosis are the lead cause of infertility,”
The late Mary Njambi Koikai was among the pioneers of the once most listened only 24/7 reggae radio station, Metro FM owned by KBC, that was later changed to Venus FM, and was finally thrown to the dogs.
The Reggae Queen also worked at Easy FM, QFM and Trace Radio. She was a talented Master of Ceremony.
