This archive report was first published on 22 December 2019.
On December 22, 2019, King Kaka's song 'Wajinga Nyinyi' became a sensation, with over a million hits on YouTube and trending on Twitter.
The song, which lampoons Kenya's corrupt political culture, had sparked a controversy, with Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru demanding that Kaka pull it down, citing allegations of corruption at the National Youth Service, which she insists she was cleared of.
However, Kaka's fans rallied around him, and the hashtag #iStandWithKaka was created, with artistes and activists accompanying him to the DCI headquarters, where he was told that he had not been summoned.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) later dismissed the summons as 'false information circulated on social media which we condemn strongly.'
Despite the controversy, Kaka's song remains a powerful commentary on Kenya's political culture, and its impact on the country's youth is undeniable.
As one Twitter user joked, 'the DCI officers had indeed summoned Kaka — to sing for them.'
While some have speculated that Kaka's actions were a publicity stunt, others believe that he was genuinely concerned about the threat to his life, which he reported to the Muthaiga police station.
Whatever the case, the incident highlights the complexities of showbiz and politics in Kenya, and the challenges of navigating the two worlds.
