This archive report was first published on 15 December 2019.
On December 14, 2019, rapper King Kaka released a new song, Wajinga Nyinyi, which has taken the country by storm. The song, which translates to 'you are fools' in Swahili, is a scathing critique of corruption in Kenya, targeting politicians and citizens alike for their hypocrisy.
Through a hard-hitting approach, King Kaka lays bare the corruption that has ravaged all sectors of the economy, provoking a fierce response from some political leaders on social media platforms. He boldly declares that Kenya is being run by thieves, chiding citizens for their willingness to elect such politicians in 2022.
“2022 already si mnajua nani ni prezzi, si mnajua Nyinyi voters ndio washenzi,” he sings, which translates to '2022 already I don't know who the president is, I don't know that you voters are fools.'
The song, which has gained over 58,000 views on YouTube, features King Kaka singing in Sheng, a dialect that is widely spoken in Kenya. He uses the language to allude to big names cited in mega corruption cases, including governors Mike Sonko and Ferdinand Waititu.
“City Stadium imekuwa renovation for three years budget ziwatoshe, while Sonko anadance tu kwa ofe,” the lyrics go, which translates to 'City Stadium has been under renovation for three years, but the budget has been embezzled, while Sonko is dancing to the tune of corruption.'
King Kaka also criticizes President Uhuru Kenyatta's administration for ignoring the youth and hiring old retirees, singing, “The youth ni Moody at 90 and Gikonyo at 80,” and the only way to be employed is when you retire.
He dismisses some of Jubilee's projects, including Huduma Number, which he says was a scam, as well as primary schools' laptops project. He also accuses Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) of stealing from Kenyans and Music Copyright Society of Kenya (MCSK) of robbing artists of their earnings.
King Kaka's song has sparked a heated debate on social media, with some praising his bravery and others criticizing his approach. Former Kathiani MP Wavinya Ndeti called out King Kaka for abusing elected leaders, while former presidential candidate Mwalimu Abduba Dida praised the song as a good piece of activist art.
