A section of Kikuyu musicians is facing intense criticism after attending a meeting with Deputy President Kithure Kindiki at his Karen residence last Friday. The gathering, which brought together over a dozen popular artists from Central Kenya’s gospel and secular scenes, was meant to discuss government support for the creative industry.
Artists in attendance included Mugithi stars Samidoh Muchoki, Jose Gatutura, Ben Githae, Karangu Muraya, DJ Fatxo, and gospel musicians like Sammy Irungu and Martin Wajanet. The DP emphasized the economic potential of the arts and called for policy reforms, stronger intellectual property protections, and the dismantling of cartels that exploit creatives.
“Music is a business. We want to support it, not politicize it,” Kindiki said, defending the meeting as a development initiative.
However, fans saw it differently. Many accused the musicians of betraying the Kikuyu community by aligning with a government currently facing a massive public backlash, especially from youth in Central Kenya. The online response was swift and unforgiving, with fans threatening to boycott the artists’ music and live performances.
Jose Gatutura responded on Facebook, defending his presence at the meeting: “I’m a neutral artist. I went to discuss how the government can support us, not politics. Music is my livelihood.” His message, however, failed to quell the public outrage.
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua also joined the fray, accusing the artists of accepting bribes of Ksh 50,000 to attend the meeting. Speaking in Murang’a, Gachagua urged fans and entertainment venues to boycott the artists unless they apologized publicly.
In a sharp rebuttal, Kindiki denied the bribery claims and accused Gachagua of inciting political intolerance. “The little we offer is from goodwill, not excess,” he stated, affirming the government’s commitment to supporting creatives.
The incident has exposed deep political rifts within Central Kenya and ignited debate over the role of artists in political discourse, with many caught between their professional survival and public expectations.
