This archive report was first published on 8 August 2020.
Ben Githae Defends His Role in Uhuru's 2017 Campaign ¶
Three years ago, on August 8, 2017, millions of Kenyans cast their votes in the presidential election. Although the election was nullified by the Supreme Court, President Uhuru Kenyatta was declared the winner in the repeat election of October 26.
One of the notable elements of President Kenyatta's campaign was a rally song titled Tano Tena, composed by gospel musician Ben Githae. The song became a viral hit, and Kenyatta's campaign planners later adopted it.
When asked about his role in the campaign, Githae stated that he had been criticized by many Kenyans who accused him of misleading them to support Uhuru. However, he maintained that he was not misleading Kenyans and that they should have thought soberly before voting.
He also poured water on rumors that he was contracted by Jubilee to produce the song, explaining that he composed it so that he could have a song to perform when booked for a gig. Despite being lucky to have the song go viral, President Kenyatta gave him a token of appreciation for it.
Speaking about the performance of President Kenyatta in his second term, Githae explained that he wouldn't want to disrespect the president, just as a person wouldn't abuse their father. He added that he was optimistic that Kenya would develop in leaps and bounds in the remainder of Uhuru's term.
