Trio Mio’s mum: I agreed my son perform at ODM event

 

Trio Mio (right) was the only artiste allowed to access the podium and shake hands with Raila Odinga. [Denish Ochieng, Standard]

As his party endorsed him to join the 2022 presidential race, Raila Odinga showed his youthful side by grooving to TJ Mario Kasela aka Trio Mio’s popular hit songs Cheza Kama Wewe and the new pop craze Sipangwingwi.

Trio Mio, a Form Three student and budding musician, was the only artiste allowed to access the podium and shake hands with the former Prime Minister and ODM.

Even though security guards tried to bar Trio Mio from getting to the tightly guarded podium where Raila was, the emcee of the day, comedian Maurice Ochieng’ aka Mdomo Baggy, urged them to let the singer meet the presidential hopeful.

“We will only have Trio Mio on the podium, not the rest,” said Mdomo Baggy as he ushered the youthful singer alongside the Coast-based Ally B and Susumila.

Raila was on his feet, doing his own rendition of Cheza Kama Wewe and when Mio got to him, they made a jubilant fist-bump greeting.

Mid this week, a debate emerged online as to whether Mio’s involvement in political messaging was appropriate, given that he is still a minor and in school.

The announcement by the 17-year-old musician that he would perform at Raila’s event in Kasarani drew mixed reactions. 

Mio said in a video posted on Raila’s Facebook and Twitter accounts that he would be one of the key acts to entertain delegates at the function.

However, the musician’s mother, Irma Sakwa, told The Standard in an exclusive interview that Raila’s handlers approached her, seeking to have Mio perform at the event.

“My son’s music appeals to the young generation. Raila Odinga’s representatives told me that they would like to leverage his influence to reach out to the youthful voters,” said Sakwa, who manages the rapper.

Adding: “I agreed that my son can entertain guests at the function. He only asked his fans to grace the event so as to see him perform.”