From gospel artistes to dance groups, entertainers seem to be reaping big from the campaign season as Kenya gears up for the August 8 General Election. Here are the 10 artistes singing all the way to the bank...or to popularity:
BEN GITHAE
The song has received mixed reactions but Githae isn’t bothered, insisting that though he is a gospel musician, he is exercising his democratic right to support whoever he wishes.
Ben Githae performs at the Groove Party event which was held at Kasarani sports grounds in Nairobi on December 31, 2013.
Photo credit: File | Nation
He has also refused to disclose how much he was paid for the track, saying: “That’s my secret, I will not say if I was paid or not,” as quoted by a showbiz blog.
Over the years, Githae has released gospel hits that include: “Timiza Maono”, “Mlianza na Roho”, “Tabia Mbaya” and “Maya Ni Mabataro”, among others.
By now, you must have heard the word Tibim, as it is used at most NASA rallies. Embakasi East MP aspirant Babu Owino popularised the word ( That is also commonly used among Gor Mahia fans) and it has become a signature word, more so because of Jalamo’s popular NASA rally song “Nasa Tibim”.
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He has denied receiving any money for the NASA song. He would be rich, perhaps, if the popularity was a form of currency.
SUZANNA OWIYO
It is a well-known fact that Suzanna has always supported the opposition and more precisely, the ODM party. Not once nor twice but many times she has graced the party’s functions to perform. Last month, she released a song titled “Nasa Dance”, a praise tune for the opposition party that urges Kenyans to vote for NASA.
DENNIS MUTARA, HEZE NDUNG’U, GITHINGITHIA, NAHSHON MAINA
The group recently released the vernacular mash-up song “Nyumba ya Mumbi”, urging their fans to turn out in large numbers to vote for the current president.
RUFFTONE
However, when it gets to politics, his feelings for the ruling party have been obvious. He is yet to release a song praising the Jubilee government but time and again, he has performed at their political functions.
President Uhuru Kenyatta chats with musician Roy Smith Mwatia popularly known as Rufftone at State House, Nairobi on February 8, 2017. PHOTO | PSCU
In 2016, he was present when several parties merged to form the Jubilee party. In February this year, he was among a few selected youths invited to State House to help push young people to register as voters for the coming general election. In a short clip aired by K24 TV, Rufftone is seen in a question-and-answer session with President Kenyatta and was full of praise for him. Also in attendance were the FBI dance crew, who later trended for the dab dance they did with the president.
President Uhuru Kenyatta joins FBI Dance Crew in a dance to encourage the youth to register as voters at State House, Nairobi on February 8, 2017. PHOTO | PSCU
HELLENA KEN
It is yet another popular NASA campaign song that is played in virtually every campaign rally.
KEVIN BAHATI
In September last year, he was among gospel musicians who performed at the grand Jubilee party merger launch in Kasarani.
In April this year, Bahati landed in Nairobi’s Kayole Soweto slums in a Jubilee-branded chopper to drum up support for Embakasi East parliamentary aspirant Francis Mureithi. Since making a musical breakthrough four years ago with his single ”Mama” that crashed the airwaves, Bahati has recorded more hit jams and he is currently riding high with ”Nikumbushe”, a collaboration with bongo flava artiste Rayvanny.
MERCY MASIKA ”.
Last year, like Bahati, she performed at the Jubilee party merger in Kasarani. In an interview with the Daily Nation in September 2016, Masika said she used to be a critic of gospel artistes who perform at political rallies but all that changed when she was invited to perform for the president, stating that it pays.
“Although we appreciate what the political parties give us, it’s not enough to buy us. As a gospel artiste you can’t always be swayed by public opinion — you have to follow God’s word,” she was quoted as saying.
Kenyan gospel artiste Mercy Masika. PHOTO | FILE
Masika has been in the game for over a decade now, flourishing with hits jams such as ”Shule Yako”, ”Nikupendeze” and ”Mwema”.
SUSUMILA
According to “Mapepe” hit-maker Susumila, it’s always about a pay check and he doesn’t necessarily have a political favourite. He says he cannot endorse any party as he fears losing his fan base.
“We are a political country and I am an entertainer and that’s what I’m paid for. I have performed at Jubilee, Cord, ODM, Nasa rallies,” Susumila says.
JAGUAR
He couldn’t beat them and so he joined them and will be on the ballot come August. Prior to his political move, Jaguar used to perform at Jubilee rallies, thus getting him closer to the presidency, something that led to his landing a government job as a member of the anti-drug abuse agency NACADA, from which he resigned to join politics. Currently, he performs his jams, such as “One Centimeter” and “Huu Mwaka”, at Jubilee political functions.
