NAIROBI-(MaraviPost)-Renowned multiple award-winning Kenyan gospel artist, Dennis Mwangi popularly known as Papa Dennis is dead.
According to the reports, the body of Dennis was discovered on the roadside in Pangani, Nairobi, on Friday night, February 7, 2020.
His death was confirmed by Legendary gospel artist, Daddy Owen who was present at the scene.
Daddy Owen was quoted by global news saying: “He was found dead by the roadside near the Jubilee Party headquarters”.
However, circumstances that lead to his death seem to be sketchy and police are yet to establish whether he committed suicide by jumping off a building or was hit by a vehicle.
Papa Dennis was born and raised in Matunda Kakamega County and had a twin brother by the name Simon Mwangi.
In one of the interviews with The Sunday Nation that happened in October 2018, Dennis revealed how him and his four siblings were unable to fend for themselves after his mother’s demise in 2006.
Denis started singing in church at a tender age in praise and worship team but his dream to pursue his music career was halt by the death of his mother who at the moment was his only caretaker.
He later relocated to Kisumu where he started a second-hand clothes business.
After the 2007 post-election violence, Denis returned home and continued chasing his dream although with many hiccups due to lack of financial muscle until he was spotted by Sadat Muhindi of Maliza Umaskini Foundation.
The Mayaya hit maker won several awards including a trophy in the 2015 Mwafaka Awards, 2016 and 2017 Pulse Music Video Awards, the 2018 African Muzik Magazine Awards (AFRIMMA) and the 2019 Dear Awards.
He was also known for exhibiting flamboyance, on several occasions sporting expensive designer clothes, watches and shoes. In 2019, he reportedly disclosed to Pulse Magazine that he had Ksh50 million in his three bank accounts.
Denis unapologetically spent millions of shillings on producing music video. He successfully sold his music across Kenya’s borders building a reputation that saw him feature the likes of Tanzanian musician Ray C for the hit Tornado, and Nigeria’s Mr Flavour for the hit Mayaya remix.
The Standard Eight drop-out on several occasions downplayed reports that he was a braggart and attributed his success to his reputable management team.
Despite his successful career, the gospel artist was known to have faced challenges in communicating in English due to his limited educational background.
