Heartbreak as DJ Krowbar’s Wife Joyce Wanjiru Karumba Dies After Long Illness

The family of celebrated gospel DJ Karumba Ngatia, widely known as DJ Krowbar, has announced the heartbreaking passing of his wife, Joyce Wanjiru Karumba.

In a statement shared by the family, Joyce passed away in the early hours of Monday, January 26, 2026, at around 3:00 a.m.

She was fondly known as Joy and remembered as a woman of deep faith, courage, and unwavering resilience.

Joyce had been on a long and difficult health journey over the past year. In mid-2025, she underwent a kidney transplant after being diagnosed with kidney failure. While the procedure initially offered hope, she later experienced complications that required continued medical care. Toward the end of 2025, Joyce developed an infection which was successfully treated, allowing her to be discharged from the hospital.

However, after spending about two weeks at home, she was re-admitted following the emergence of further medical challenges. Despite the best efforts of her medical team and the unwavering support of her family, Joyce sadly succumbed.

She is survived by her husband, DJ Karumba, and their three children — Toria, Riri, and Imani.

The family described themselves as united in grief but firmly anchored in faith. They have asked the public for prayers, love, and understanding, while requesting privacy during this deeply painful period as they prepare to lay Joyce to rest. Details of funeral arrangements, they said, will be communicated in due course.

Her Brave Journey

In 2024, Joyce openly shared her health struggles during a candid conversation with Size 8 on the reality show Love in Wild. At the time, she spoke honestly about the emotional toll her kidney diagnosis had taken on her family, particularly her children.

Joyce revealed that her children lived in constant fear of losing her, often asking their father about her condition but struggling to voice their fears directly to her.

“It was very hard for them and they feared they would lose me. They would ask my husband but they could not ask me. When I got a donor, we told them that they have a special love for my sister for accepting to be a kidney donor,” she shared.

She also disclosed that the family made the decision to seek therapy together, acknowledging the strain her illness had placed on her marriage and the emotional roller coaster they endured as a unit.

Despite the immense challenges, Joyce remained steadfast in hope and faith, choosing resilience over self-pity. She publicly praised her husband for his unwavering support throughout her journey.

“I knew my husband loved me, but it’s through this journey that I realized he kept his promise — for better, for worse,” she said.

Joyce also expressed gratitude to her sister for agreeing to be her kidney donor, repeatedly crediting her survival and strength to God’s grace.

Her passing has left a deep void in the gospel community and beyond, with many remembering her as a woman whose life was marked by faith, love, and remarkable strength.