A 16-year-old violinist who played through pain has lost his final battle, leaving a family broken by grief and crushed by a Sh2.8 million medical debt.

The music has stopped for Prince Favour Baraka. In the sterile wards of Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), a bright light has been extinguished. The 16-year-old, whose fingers once danced over the strings of a violin with a joy that defied his diagnosis, succumbed to aggressive bone cancer this week. His death is not just a family tragedy; it is a heartbreaking indictment of a healthcare system where the cost of dying is often higher than the cost of living.

A Fight Against Time and Biology

Baraka’s battle was short, brutal, and valiant. Diagnosed with bone cancer of the hip joint in late November 2025, the disease metastasized with terrifying speed. "I watched the young man go into the fight for his life, never a dull day with you," his mother, known as Eden’s Gate, recounted in a tearful tribute. By the end of January, the cancer had claimed him, ending a struggle that saw a vibrant teenager reduced to a patient in mere weeks.

But the pain did not end with his last breath. The family is now staring at a financial mountain: an outstanding bill of Sh2.8 million accrued across Aga Khan Hospital and KNH. The cost of his treatment has left them unable to grieve in peace.

• The Violinist’s Legacy: Baraka was not just a patient; he was a musician. A key member of his school band, his violin was his voice. His loss is felt deeply in the Nairobi arts community and among the bikers who are now rallying to escort him to his final resting place.
• The Final Journey: He will be interred at Lang'ata Cemetery on Friday, February 6, 2026. A procession will depart from Umash Funeral Home, a somber parade for a boy who had so much more music to play.

A Mother’s Plea

The biker community has stepped up, with contact person Timothy (071-596-2231) coordinating the escort. But the bill remains. As Nairobi mourns a son who "named all his challenges and made his story beautiful," the family’s plea is a stark reminder of the financial toxicity of cancer in Kenya.

Prince Favour Baraka has played his final note. Now, it is up to the city he loved to ensure his family is not buried under the weight of his treatment.