Pastor Victor Kanyari has provided detailed insight into how the death of gospel musician Betty Bayo has affected their two children, confirming that the minors are experiencing significant emotional distress. In a series of public statements, the pastor reported that the children have shown clear signs of sadness, confusion and heightened anxiety as they continue to adjust to the loss of their mother.
According to Kanyari, the children’s emotional response has been immediate and consistent. He stated that he has observed them becoming noticeably withdrawn, with long spells of silence replacing their usual interactions. “These past days, I’ve watched them try to understand what no child should ever have to understand,” he said. “One moment they’re quiet. The next, they’re asking questions I have no strength to answer.”
The pastor indicated that the children have asked repeated questions about their well-being and future, a pattern he described as a natural expression of insecurity following the sudden loss of a parent. He said the minors seek reassurance regularly, especially in the evenings, when their emotional vulnerability appears to increase. “When they whisper, ‘Daddy, are we going to be okay?’ I silently pray that God gives me the strength to make that promise real,” he stated.
Kanyari further confirmed that the children have exhibited physical signs of emotional distress. He reported frequent episodes of crying, both during the day and at night, which require him to provide direct comfort. He noted that the intensity of their grief often overlaps with his own, making the process emotionally demanding for the household. “I see their tears, and I wipe them even when my own are still fresh,” the pastor said.
He also reported increased attachment behaviours from the children. According to his account, they prefer to remain close to him within the home and become uneasy when he steps away. He said the need for physical and emotional proximity has grown significantly over the weeks following their mother’s death. “I hold them close, and they hold me together,” he explained, adding that he has had to adjust his schedule to ensure he is available to them as they navigate their grief.
The pastor said the children’s normal routines have been affected as well. Tasks such as preparing for school, participating in activities they previously enjoyed and interacting socially have been disrupted by emotional strain. He attributed the changes to the psychological weight of losing a parent at a young age. The family, he noted, is working to restore structure while prioritizing the children’s mental and emotional stability.
The pastor stated that he is committed to ensuring the children feel secure throughout the grieving process. “We will heal… slowly, but we will heal,” he said.
He also appealed for privacy on behalf of the minors, stressing that additional external pressure could deepen their distress. The pastor reiterated that his current focus is on stabilising the environment at home and creating conditions that allow the children to recover at their own pace.