Six years after the fiery tragedy that claimed her husband, the gospel star opens up from her Canadian diaspora base about the paralyzing grip of grief and the terrified hope of finding a new beginning.

It has been over half a decade since the flames at Great Wall Gardens consumed her world, but for Ruth Matete, the phantom heat of that day still lingers in the cold Canadian air. In a raw, tearful dispatch that has rippled across the Atlantic, the former Tusker Project Fame winner has finally declared a fragile truce with her past.

This is not just a celebrity update; it is a searing portrait of a widow’s resilience. Posting from her new home in Edmonton, where she relocated two years ago, Matete’s admission that she "hopes to fall in love again" marks a definitive turning point in one of the most heartbreaking sagas in Kenya’s entertainment history.

The Long Shadow of Great Wall Gardens

To understand the weight of this moment, one must rewind to the horrors of April 2020. The incident remains etched in the public psyche: a malfunctioning gas cylinder, a frantic attempt to release pressure, and a spark that turned a domestic evening into a catastrophe. John Apewajoye, her Nigerian husband of only five months, sustained 60% burns.

The medical report was a catalogue of agony. Dr. Johansen Oduor, the chief government pathologist, confirmed that Apewajoye succumbed to sepsis and multiple organ failure after fighting for his life in the ICU. But for Matete, the trauma did not end at the hospital bed.

• The Investigation: Matete was grilled by the DCI for days, her grief compounded by suspicion and a media circus that painted her as a suspect rather than a survivor.
• The Public Court: Social media zealots dissected her every move, forcing her to mourn under a microscope while heavily pregnant.
• The Exoneration: It took months for the files to be closed, declaring the death a tragic accident, but the emotional acquittal has taken years.

Life in the Diaspora

Since moving to Canada in 2024 with her daughter Toluwa, Matete has curated a quiet life away from the Nairobi limelight. Yet, her latest post reveals that geographical distance does not cure internal wounds. "I cried today," she wrote, recounting memories of a man she described as her "best friend."

Her vulnerability challenges the sanitized "move on" culture often imposed on widows. Matete admits that while she is thriving professionally—now a registered nurse and worship leader—the void of a partner remains. "I don't want to be alone forever," she confessed, a statement that has sparked an outpouring of support from fans back home.

As she navigates this new chapter, Matete stands as a testament to the fact that healing is not linear. She survived the fire, the police cells, and the public shaming. Now, she is daring to survive the loneliness. "Love is a risk," she concluded, "but it is one I am finally willing to take."