The story of Blasto Ooko, perhaps the most famous of all impoverished composers, follows a similar trajectory.
His funeral procession was followed by thousands, a testament to the love and respect he had earned from the Kenyan music community.
Yet, Ooko, like many before him, struggled financially.
In one occasion, Blasto faced Bitange Ndemo while serving as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information and Communication, in 2011, and said: "The person who did research on Mugithi is Blasto Samuel Ooko. Those who were in the Kenya Music Festival can attest. I came with the KenGen Choir with Men in black. I directed it. Somebody from somewhere came and mixed without my knowledge," he said.
"In 1998, I did 'Niwara Nono', it was sung and won in America, United Kingdom as well as here. Am still poor as I am. Kenyans need to ashamed of themselves," he said.
Wimbo wa Historia
Even the legendary Enock Ondego, the man behind timeless compositions like 'Wimbo wa Historia', which has become synonymous with Kenya's national celebrations, lived a life of despair in his final years.
Despite his close association with the founding president, Jomo Kenyatta, Ondego spent his last five decades in financial hardship.
His family struggled to raise enough money to give him a decent burial after his passing in 2023. His son, Michael Ondego, lamented his father's plight, saying: "He lived a miserable life. My father fought for the copyright of his songs, but it was all in vain."
"Like athletes, footballers and other people who earn from their talents, choral music directors go down penniless," says Prof Fredrick Ngala, chairman of the Kenya Music Festival.
The stories of these unsung heroes serve as a stark reminder that artistic genius is often not enough to guarantee financial security," says Richard Khadambi, another music legend
"We need to recognize them and reward them for the great work they are doing to entertain and bless our souls with gospel and patriotic songs. I want someone to honor me when am still alive, not at my death bed," he says.
Humphrey Kisia, composer and arranger, says for many composers, the dream of living off their art remains elusive.
"Our music directors are grappling with poverty while their music thrives in public spaces. As the Kenyan music community continues to evolve, the hope remains that future generations of composers will not face the same struggles and that their work will be both celebrated and fairly compensated," he says.