Murder in Melody: The Rise and Fall of Chelele

In the green hills of Kapkwen, Bomet County, Kenya, Diana Chemutai… famously known as Chelele… was born in the early 1980s. Her childhood was interwoven with melody, her mother’s church hymns filling Sundays with hope, her father’s folk songs drifting tenderly across their modest farm. Young Diana danced barefoot on red soil, her voice brimming with promise, foreshadowing a future that would soar far beyond her humble village.

As a teenager, Diana found inspiration in the vibrant rhythms of South African music drifting from her family’s radio. Artists like Pamela Nkutha awakened dreams in her…dreams larger than Kapkwen. Under the soft glow of a kerosene lamp, Diana scribbled lyrics blending Kalenjin narratives with Afro-pop beats. Her captivating performances at school gatherings often left audiences spellbound, prompting her sister Cheche to proudly remark, “She was born to shine.”

In her twenties, Diana adopted the stage name Chelele, symbolizing her energetic spirit. She moved to Kericho, plunging into a lively yet ruthless music scene. Nights were spent performing in smoky clubs, blending traditional Kalenjin melodies with South African flair. In 2008, performing “Wrong Number” at Sunset Bar, she caught the attention of Eric Musila, a charismatic police officer. His charm, evident in the small, thoughtful gifts he lavished upon her…bracelets, scarves…captivated her heart. Despite warnings from friends about his controlling nature, Chelele believed she’d found protection and solace. They married shortly afterward, welcoming twin daughters in 2009.

Her career blossomed spectacularly in 2010 when “Wrong Number” became a nationwide sensation, echoing through matatus across Kenya. She earned the title “Kalenjin Queen of Afro-Pop,” captivating audiences in vibrant, colorful dresses inspired by her South African idols. Yet behind her radiant public image, Chelele privately battled sexism and exploitation in the music industry. Her perseverance masked profound personal struggles.

At home, tensions brewed. Musila became obsessively jealous, increasingly accusing Chelele of infidelity, his suspicions particularly centered on Antony Ngari, a respected businessman and music promoter she had recently befriended professionally. Arguments intensified until their relationship fractured completely in 2015. Devastated, Chelele moved to Bomet County, finding companionship and comfort with musician Ronald Cheruiyot, who became her boyfriend and confidant.

In early January 2016, Musila persistently contacted Chelele, ostensibly to return her personal belongings. Under his advice, she cautiously purchased a new WICO phone to communicate discreetly. Despite Ronald’s warnings, Chelele agreed to a nighttime meeting after a performance at Club City on January 6, seeking closure. She left her friend’s home around 11:00 pm, wrapped in a borrowed Maasai shuka, promising a swift return. It was the last time her friends saw her alive.

Witness accounts from the night painted a chilling scene. Neighbor Gladys Chepkemoi vividly described seeing Chelele running anxiously towards Musila, who stood menacingly by a roadside. Their tense interaction raised alarm, intensified by the appearance of an unknown man. Later, Rita Chemng’eno recounted seeing Musila near Chebole at around 3:00 am, desperately trying to stop passing cars, his clothes suspiciously mismatched.

The dreadful truth emerged two days later. On January 9, Chelele’s lifeless body was discovered abandoned on a porch, grotesquely mutilated. Her stomach slashed open, her neck brutally stabbed, defensive wounds marking a fierce struggle. Villagers recoiled in horror at the violent scene. Forensic investigations quickly linked Musila through phone data and blood evidence collected at the crime scene.

In court, thirteen witnesses detailed the dramatic events preceding her death. Ronald testified about her cautious dealings with Musila. Gladys described the disturbing roadside encounter, while forensic experts presented evidence linking Musila and a suspicious male accomplice to the scene. Despite compelling evidence, critical eyewitness misidentifications, notably involving a sweater worn by Musila, weakened the prosecution’s case. The absence of a direct eyewitness to the murder itself led to Musila’s acquittal in May 2019, leaving Chelele’s family and community devastated.

However, Musila’s violent tendencies would inevitably catch up to him. He was later implicated in the 2012 murder of Mr Yego, an Eldoret surveyor romantically involved with Chelele during a turbulent period of her marriage. The dark, tangled web surrounding Yego’s death finally unraveled in court, exposing Musila’s lethal jealousy and leading to his conviction and sentencing to death in 2021.

Months after Chelele’s brutal murder, her close friend and fellow musician, Barbara Chepkoech Waridi, discovered a haunting audio recording on Chelele’s phone. Barbara, who considered Chelele a musical protégé and dear friend, tearfully listened as the singer whispered, “Jehovah, I live in tears… everything is taken.” Barbara’s sharing of this harrowing message reignited national sorrow and outrage, preserving Chelele’s painful last words in public memory.

Today, Chelele’s soulful voice continues to resonate through Kapkwen and beyond, her music filling matatus and clubs, a poignant reminder of her lost dreams. Candlelight vigils keep her memory alive, as celebrated artists like Emmy Kosgei honor her enduring legacy, the village girl whose shining light was extinguished far too soon, yet whose songs continue to inspire and heal.

And this was…

#VCDigest

Join our fan club today to suggest stories and engage vibrantly with fellow readers

VC Digest Fan Club