07/06/2024
~IN MEMORY OF JAHMBY KOIKAI~
In June 2010, reggae maestro Don Carlos came to Kenya for a reggae show powered by Sawa Sawa Festival. The free for all show was at the Lantana Gardens at Kasarani Stadium. There were popular reggae fans groups like Jericho Team, Umoja Renegades, Githurai Massive, Kayole Passie and Dandora Massive. Each group tried to outdo the others in numbers,dresscode and dance styles. It was a big show. I was among the "crowda people " who were "irie" because of the "niceness of the session" The EmCee of the show was Fyah Mummah Jahmby Koikai and Don Carlos talked highly about her.
Mary Njambi Koikai was born in the ghettos of Kawangware in Dagoretti South.She grew up listening to reggae music from an early age.
She attended St Hannahs Preparatory School and Makini Schools.She would later join Daystar and USIU Universities for Degrees in Media and International Relations and French respectively.
Njambis ambition was to be a news anchor but her passion for reggae was stronger.
Empress Fyah Mummah Jahmby hosted reggae shows in Metro Fm and QFM. She also trained herself in EmCeeing in reggae shows and was much sought after being among the very few women in this space. She knew her act and resonated well with reggae revellers.
In the course of her reggae concerts she has interviewed and shared the stage with International reggae greats like Black Uhuru, Morgan Heritage, Turbulence, Damian Marley, Etana and Richie Spice.
From the age of 13 Njambi started experiencing painful periods that greatly hampered her activities. For 17 years, her lungs would collapse every month. It was later diagnosed to be Thoracic Endometriosis.
In the course of her treatment she underwent 21 surgeries.
Njambi was the first manager of music group Sauti Sol and was a regular panelist on NTVs show The Trend. In 2022 she unsuccessfully vied for the MP for Dagoretti South seat.
She was an advocate for women health specifically endometriosis.
Jahmby Koikai rested on Jun
