Pokot kapuka star prides in his heritage

Mike Rotini (left) with Mejia [PHOTO: DANIEL PSIRMOI/STANDARD]

By DANIEL PSIRMOI

For many fans of present day secular music, Eastlands in Nairobi is known as the home of nearly all the top names in the current Kenyan musical scene. 

Only a handful of artistes from outside the capital city have broken the glass ceiling, but a background check on most them reveals that they all hail from major urban centers including, among others, Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru and Nyeri.

However, Mike Rotino, who goes by the stage name of Mike-B, who was born and brought up in Chepareria, in West Pokot County, is an ‘oddball’, for lack of a better word. 

The fast-rising secular music star, who hails from a region that has for years been synonymous with tales of bloody conflicts involving cattle rustlers, has made a name for himself as the first known Pokot Kapuka (a form of hip pop music popular in Kenya) artiste.

First album

The songs of the 24-year-old, who is on the process of shooting a video for his first album, enjoy considerable airplay in local and regional FM stations in western Kenya and the North Rift.

Some of the hits include Nampenda Chebii, which he recorded at the famed Jomino Records and Nawatetea Wanyonge that was done at Calif Studios.  Other hits include Sorry Baby, Usicheke Masikini and Shake Your Body.

“It is funny the stereotype people have about persons from my region.   On many occasions, my fans on realising that I am a Pokot, ask where my gun is,” he reveals when we begin this interview.

Mike-B -who has rubbed shoulders with most top acts in the Kenyan music circles, including Jua Kali, Mejia, and Nonini, among others, and even Mr Nice from Tanzania and Jose Chameleone from Uganda  -has learned to take the taunting of his heritage in his stride. 

‘Pokot Pride’

“Any fan of mine who has keenly listened to my songs has heard me referring to myself as the ‘Pokot Pride’.  I am proud of my heritage and I want to show the world that people from my marginalised community can also become renowned musicians,” says Mike- B. 

The negative stereotype persons have about the larger Pokot community who reside in both Kenya and Uganda, bothers the Mike-B, and he has finished composing a song on the topic, which he says will enlightening the listeners’ and dispel the erroneous belief they have.  

Growing up, the second born in a family of 9 envied the lifestyle of most top American celebrities, who were doing hip hop music, including Rick-Ross, who he ironically bears a striking resemblance with.  

When he was in primary school, the late E-Sir (Real name Issa Mmari) a leading Kapuka Musician greatly inspired him. 

Mike-B began composing songs when he was in Standard 7 and recorded his first track at Sinai Records in Kitale, when he was a Form 3 student.

Diploma graduate

It is after he finished college at the Rift Valley Institute of Science Technology (RVIST) in Nakuru two years ago, where he graduated with a diploma in Human Resources Management, when the budding artiste decided to practise music full time.

He says: “During the last campaigns before the March 4 polls, I earned a six-figure amount after performing for less than 5 minutes in a political rally and used that in recording my album which will be out by November.”

He also organises shows and events for the Nairobi based artistes in the region.  He advises upcoming musicians not to be discouraged and appeals to the established artistes to nurture the new ones in the field. “Hard work and determination is the key in the entertainment industry, they should not bother where they hail from,” he says.