Aisha Jumwa vows to assist the late Ally B’s family

Public Service CS Aisha Jumwa has promised to build a music studio in memory of the late Coast-based singer Ally B, who died last week aged 49.

Jumwa delivered a Sh500,000 donation from President William Ruto to Ally B’s family and also made a personal donation of Sh100,000 to help his ailing mother.

“To honor Ally B, we are going to build a studio and name it Ally B studio to keep his memory alive for his contribution towards uplifting the Mijikenda and Coast cultures through his music,” the CS said.

Ally B’s close associate and friend, Coast-based music promoter Dickson Waweru of Ring Ring Entertainment, said a team will be set up to identify a suitable location for the studio and draw up a budget proposal to present to Jumwa for funding.

Ally B had been working part-time for the Kilifi county government since taking a sabbatical from music in 2017. He unsuccessfully vied for the Juda ward seat in the 2017 and 2022 elections.

Meanwhile, Ally B’s family has retracted his younger brother Mohammed Ramadhan’s statement asking entertainers and radio and TV stations never to play the late singer’s songs.

Mohammed said they wanted Ally B’s soul to rest in peace, but the family spokesperson Mwinyi said Mohammed’s sentiments did not reflect the family’s position.

“We understand that Mohammed said what he said out of grief, but as a family, we are okay with anyone playing Ally’s music because he had many fans and it wouldn’t be fair to gag them,” Mwinyi said.