Kenyan singer Mary Maina, widely known by her stage name Marya, has opened up about the terrifying moment she suffered a stroke while at home with her children.
Speaking during an interview on the Oga Obinna Show, the Chokoza hitmaker revealed how the ordeal struck suddenly and without warning.
“I was holding my second-born when he slipped from my arms,” she recalled. “As I bent down to pick him up, I collapsed.”
Marya described the frightening symptoms—sudden numbness in her hand and leg, and an inability to move or even clench her fist. Her nanny, caught in panic, struggled to respond as both mother and child cried out for help.
She was rushed to hospital, where doctors diagnosed her with an ischemic stroke, a condition caused by a blockage of blood flow to the brain. The medical emergency left her physically incapacitated, unable to walk or perform simple tasks.
In June, comedian Eric Omondi made a heartfelt appeal to Kenyans to support Marya, noting the toll the illness has taken on her career and livelihood.
“She can’t walk or perform. All her shows have been cancelled. She’s a mother of two and needs us now,” he posted.
Eric’s plea drew attention to the financial burden Marya faces, with mounting hospital bills and the responsibility of raising her children. Fans and fellow artists have since rallied behind her, sending prayers and pledging support for her recovery.
