Former Sailors Gang Member Shalkido Dies Following Motorbike Crash on Thika Road

Nairobi, Kenya – October 6, 2025 – Kenyan Gengetone artist Shalkido, whose real name was Paul Koigi Mungai, has tragically passed away following a severe motorcycle accident on the Thika-Nairobi highway.

The incident, which occurred in the early hours of Sunday morning, has left fans, fellow artists, and the music community in mourning, with tributes pouring in across social media.

According to reports, Shalkido was riding back to Nairobi from a late-night performance in Thika when the accident happened around 4 a.m.

Witnesses described a grisly scene where the artist lost control of his bike, resulting in critical head injuries.

Some accounts suggest a possible hit-and-run involvement.

He was immediately rushed to Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral, and Research Hospital (KUTRRH), where he was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit with internal bleeding in the brain and a broken left leg.

In a heartbreaking video shared by family members on TikTok, Shalkido’s cousin confirmed his death at 6:30 p.m. while standing beside the artist’s father. “Hello, guys, it is a sad evening. We are here with Shalkido’s father, and we have just received a report from the doctor that Shalkido died at 6:30, just a few minutes ago. So, guys, let us come together and stand with this family. Everything will be okay,” the cousin said.

The news was also confirmed by Shalkido’s sister, who told Oga Obinna’s personal assistant that the doctor had called the family to deliver the devastating update and that his body had been moved to the morgue.

The tragic news came only hours after comedian and media personality Oga Obinna revealed that Shalkido was fighting for his life in ICU.

“We are at KU Referral Hospital, and things are not looking up because of a few factors. When we came in, tukapelekwa mbaka place yuko, yuko kwa ICU,” Obinna had said earlier, noting that doctors described Shalkido’s condition as critical.

According to Obinna, he had been with the Wanyonyi hitmaker in Thika earlier that morning, where Shalkido had been scheduled to perform at his show. After the performance, they parted ways in the early hours, with the musician opting to ride his motorbike back to Nairobi.

“When we were leaving, we lost him at some point. When we met at the merging road to Thika, he was on his bike. I fueled his bike, and we proceeded. This was around 4 a.m. We went until just past KU. He waved at us as he took an exit, and we proceeded with our journey,” Obinna recounted.

Hours later, reports surfaced that the singer had been involved in a serious accident.

Police have impounded the motorbike as part of an ongoing investigation into the crash’s cause.

The bike itself held poignant significance: just weeks earlier, Shalkido had publicly shared his financial hardships and appealed for help from fans and the public.

Well-wishers, including Oga Obinna, gifted him the motorcycle to support his young family by enabling him to work as a boda boda rider.

Tragically, the same vehicle became the site of his fatal accident.

Shalkido in a last photo he took earlier in the day ahead who’s show before the tragic accident.

Shalkido rose to prominence as a member of Sailors Gang, a trailblazing group in Kenya’s Gengetone scene during the late 2010s.

Their infectious hits like “Wamlambez,” “Wainame,” and “Pekejeng” captured the energy of urban youth culture and propelled the genre into the mainstream.

After the group’s disbandment, Shalkido pivoted to Mugithi music in an effort to reinvent himself and sustain his career amid personal challenges.

Born into humble circumstances, he often spoke candidly about his struggles, emphasizing his determination to provide for his family despite fading from the spotlight.

The news of his death has sparked an outpouring of grief online.

Fans remembered him as a talented and humble soul who fought relentlessly to rebuild his life.

One tribute highlighted the tragic irony of his situation: “Shalkido begged for this bike to secure a livelihood… today out of an accident he’s brain dead.”

Fellow artists and media figures have shared emotional updates, urging the community to reflect on road safety and support struggling musicians.

Shalkido’s passing underscores the vulnerabilities faced by artists in Kenya’s competitive music industry, where fame can be fleeting and financial stability elusive.

As investigations continue, his family has requested privacy during this difficult time. Funeral arrangements have yet to be announced.

Rest in peace, Shalkido – a voice that defined a generation, gone too soon.