Bensoul reveals TB battle forced him to quit music for six months

Kenyan singer Bensoul, born Benson Mutua Muia, has opened up about his battle with tuberculosis (TB), revealing that the illness affected his voice and forced him to take a six-month break from music.

The singer said his health deteriorated while he was living in Kayole, Nairobi, eventually forcing him to return to his family home in Embu, where he received treatment.

“Kuna time niligonjeka TB, nilikua tu hii Nairobi, tukiishi Kayole. Afya yangu ikakua mbaya sana mpaka ikabidi nirudi home Embu. Ndio nikatreatiwa huko. Zoooote bure kabisa,” Bensoul said during an interview with Nick Kwach on Friday, October 2, 2026.

After returning to Embu, Bensoul said he spoke to his mother and was advised to stay away from his usual activities for six months as he recovered.

This meant putting his music career on hold, including singing and attending gigs.

“So nikapigia mama yangu simu, so vile nilikua Embu, nikaambiwa I need to stay away from everything for 6 months. Like kuimba, ma gigs. Walisema first 3 months nisitoke,” he said.

Bensoul lost his voice

The illness also affected Bensoul’s ability to sing, leaving him without his voice during his recovery.

Unable to perform, the singer turned to songwriting and spent much of his time writing new material, initially hoping he could eventually sell the songs.

“I had lost my voice, sikua naweza hata kuimba. So nilikua naandika mawimbo mob with the hope nawea uza,” Bensoul said.

The enforced break from performing therefore gave him an opportunity to focus on another aspect of his craft.

He continued writing songs while recovering, building a collection of material during the six months he was away from the stage.

Recovery changed his plans

Bensoul said his plans for the songs changed after he regained his health.

While he had initially considered selling some of the material, recovering from TB made him reconsider how he wanted to use the songs.

He eventually decided to release most of the music himself rather than sell it.

“Vile nilipona, I decided to give out most of the songs. I decided to do most of them,” Bensoul said.

The experience marked a significant interruption in Bensoul’s music career, taking him from performing in Nairobi to returning home to Embu for treatment and recovery.