Popular Kayole rapper Toxic Lyrikali is under heavy fire after a viral video from his recent visit to State House sparked accusations of betrayal from his fans and the Kenyan Gen Z movement.
The rapper, who has built a reputation as a gritty voice for Nairobi’s inner-city youth, attended a State-sponsored “empowerment” event presided over by President William Ruto. The gathering brought together thousands of youth, leaders, and celebrities, with the government distributing millions in funding and small business toolkits.
Invited on stage by Dagoretti North MP John “KJ” Kiarie, Toxic received loud cheers from the crowd before uttering a short but controversial chant:
“Tuasema aje? Ati tunaisema aje? Mboka Doba siku zombo. Two term!”
The slogan “Two Term” is widely seen as the government’s rebuttal to the opposition’s viral “Wantam” rallying cry, which calls for President Ruto to be denied a second term. Toxic then shook the president’s hand, shared a shoulder bump, and left the stage—seemingly cementing his alignment with the ruling administration.
The clip ignited fierce backlash online, with many accusing the rapper of abandoning the struggles of the ghetto youth he once represented—struggles that include joblessness, police brutality, and state-sponsored violence. One X user wrote, “Toxic lyrikali is proof that anybody can betray you under the right circumstances.” Another lamented, “Bila sisi anadhani angepata hio platform? This is why siskizangi most Kenyan artists.”
Others criticized the perceived willingness of Kenyan celebrities to compromise their principles for financial gain, contrasting it with artists abroad who have risked careers to maintain their political stance.
Toxic attempted to defend himself on Instagram, joking, “Ground ni ile ile, niseme wantam akiwa hapo nipotezwe?”—suggesting that openly defying the president in person could have had serious consequences.
Some defended him, arguing he was cornered and merely acted in self-preservation. X personality Kimuzi noted, “He chose himself over people. Online energy haikuangi same na ground.”
Despite the controversy, Toxic remains Kenya’s hottest rap act. His latest single, Backbencher, has topped Spotify and Apple Music charts for weeks and racked up 3.3 million YouTube views in under a month. Whether this political storm will slow his momentum remains to be seen.
