THOUSANDS of mourners gathered at the Subukia market park yesterday for the funeral service of one-man-guitar musician Paul Mwangi, popularly known as Salim Junior.
They first viewed his body at the Nakuru War Memorial mortuary.
The service was attended by fellow musicians, media personalities and officials from the national and Nakuru governments, among them Governor Kinuthia Mbugua.
Mbugua said the county and the country has lost one of the greatest musicians.
He said it will take time to replace him.
“We have lost a king in the music industry and it is my prayer that God will give Mwangi’s family strength,” Mbugua said.
Kieni MP Kanini Kega said politicians have a role to play in ensuring musicians are paid their royalties.
He said Kenyan musicians die poor despite writing popular songs.
Kega said he will sponsor a bill to ensure artists are paid their dues even after death.
Nakuru East MP David Gikaria and Kimani Ngunjiri of Bahati said Kenyan musicians “have been misused for a very long time”.
“We are more than willing to ensure our Kenyan musicians are well paid after composing their music,” Ngunjiri said.
Musicians Muigai wa Njoroge, John Demathew, Ben Githae and Lois Kim eulogised Mwangi as a down to earth person who cherished others.
Demathew urged fellow musicians to emulate him and make his dream of establishing a music studio in Nakuru to nurture talent a reality.