Popular musician distances himself from song attacking DP Ruto

A popular Kikuyu musician is in the eye of a storm after his newest song was tweaked and negative clips of Deputy President William Ruto juxtaposed, triggering a major controversy over 2022 succession politics.

The new hit, 'Mbari Ya Kimendero' by Muigai wa Njoroge on the state of the nation is now the subject of debate among politicians and is likely to raise political temperatures in Central and Rift Valley regions, where the succession game plan is still unfolding.

'Mbari ya Kimendero' (clan of the greedy) was released early this month and has been corrupted to introduce images of Ruto in what Muigai terms an attempt to assassinate the character of the Deputy President.

Yesterday, the singer distanced himself from the corrupted version of the song.

“I am a man of God and I cannot publish a song that will evoke ethnic tension,” the musician told The Standard.

“I am the composer of the original video, 'Mbari ya Kimendero', but not the fake version that was plagiarised by my haters to tarnish my name,” said Muigai.

He calls men in power “dinosaurs” and “corrupt leaders who work day and night to ensure that water (services) do not reach Wanjiku”. The song highlights Kenya’s poor leadership.

Muigai said his original song was plagiarised and photos of the Deputy President and his family injected into the video.

He said the fake song was shared on various social media platforms, including Facebook, by people out to tarnish his name.

Muigai said he recorded his complaint with the Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) citing plagiarism of 'Kimendero', which means 'crusher' or 'oppressor'.

“I have presented a copy of my original song to the DCI and the matter is under investigation,” he said.