Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has ramped up efforts to consolidate his political influence in the Mount Kenya region by engaging with key figures from the creative industry. In a strategic move seen as part of his broader empowerment campaign across the country, Kindiki held a high-profile meeting with dozens of musicians and performers on Friday, May 23, 2025.
Among those present were celebrated Mugithi artist Samidoh (Samuel Muchoki Ndirangu) and renowned gospel and political singer Ben Githae, famous for his 2017 campaign anthem Uhuru Tano Tena. Kindiki described the gathering as an important step toward strengthening the creative sector and supporting artists through policy reforms and protection of intellectual property rights.
“The creative industry is a multibillion-shilling business, and constant engagement with performing artists and stakeholders is imperative,” Kindiki said in a post on X.
Photos from the meeting suggested a strong presence of Mount Kenya artists, despite Kindiki not explicitly confirming their regional affiliation. The meeting also drew a significant number of MPs from the area, including Alice Ng’ang’a (Thika Town), John Njuguna Wanjiku (Kiambaa), Mburu Kahangara (Lari), Elijah Njoroge (Gatundu North), and Githua Wamacukuru (Kabete).
This outreach comes amid growing concerns within government circles that musicians and entertainers are amplifying youth dissatisfaction with the administration, particularly through protest music played in clubs and shared on social media.
The 2027 general election looms large over these developments. In the run-up to the 2022 polls, artists played a pivotal role in shaping public opinion. Then-candidate William Ruto notably leveraged the viral hit Sipangwingwi to rally support from disenchanted youth and promote his “hustler” narrative.
Kindiki’s recent engagement appears to be a bid to replicate that success and counter rising political dissent in Mount Kenya. With the creative industry poised to be a battleground for political messaging once again, artists are likely to remain key players in the region’s unfolding political drama.
