SCANDALS, TRAGEDY AND DEATH: The Ugly side of Showbiz

A collage of the Late Jahmby Koikai, Diamond Platnumz, Etana and the late Brian Chira. [Courtesy]

The weekend of December 7-8 will go down in history as one of the most controversial, embarrassing and unprofessional, yet, patriotic in Kenya’s showbiz history.

From event cancellations to top artistes squaring up to each other, the weekend witnessed untold chaos in Kenya’s event organization, and what local greatness is when harnessed.

Pozze vs Simba

Willy Paul made the headlines at the star-studded Furaha City Festival, which went down at the Nairobi Polo Club, superseding the talents of Khaligraph Jones, Rayvanny, Femi One, Mejja and others.

He did this not for his electrifying stage performance, but for going toe to toe with the event organizers and bongo star Diamond Platinumz.

Pozze, who was irked by the schedule, made so much noise, and pushed his way, literally, to perform before Diamond, who was said to have left the venue in a huff.

Taking the fight online, Pozze claimed to be the main Simba.

“I was mistreated at the event. Waliweka Tanzanians wa-perform as if it was Tanzania Festival. Wakachange vitu last minute!! We should not tolerate this nonsense…”, he said, adding: “I urge event organizers and the wider industry to treat Kenyan artists with the respect they deserve. We’re ambassadors of our culture, and fair treatment is key to our industry’s growth.”

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The organisers, led by former news anchor Willis Raburu, released a statement a day after, saying in part; “While acknowledging a minor security issue involving another artiste, (presumably Willy Paul’s) the festival organizers assured fans that it was swiftly resolved to maintain safety and professionalism.” The statement lay all blame at the feet of Diamond, for ‘behaviour and demands (that) proved regrettable and unnecessarily overbearing.’

Etana Vs Simba

Move over Pozze, and Jamaican superstar Etana also had a bone to pick with Diamond, laying all blame for her cancelled show, Good Vibes Festival at Simba’s feet. The show, not far from the Nairobi Polo Club, was sabotaged, according to Etana, with officials claiming security reasons.

“Simba is a coward! And a cratches!” she posted under an explainer post that read, “My show on Dec 7 was being promoted long before someone popped up with a show with Diamond Platnumz on the same day and in the same area. Then soon after that I heard their show was postponed…”

Teargas For The Love of Amapiano

Still on shows, teargas was the highlight of South African amapiano deejay and artiste Uncle Waffles at the ASK Dome along Ngong Road, which turned chaotic, and police had to be called in.

The chaos led to the artiste cancelling her performance, with the popular deejay later posting, “From sound issues even before my performance to my team being mishandled, this wasn’t something I expected at all.”

The Kabus manenos

A knife-wielding wife, an introduction to nannies on video, and CCTV footage that is under scrutiny as evidence of cheating, one of showbiz’ oldest couples are at it –again.

Simon Kabu and Sarah, who has recently changed her name to Sarah Mtalii or Sarah Njoki Nyaga, have separated, with Sarah confirming that she moved away after the activities of the released video, which sees her chase some woman around the matrimonial home while holding a knife.

Sarah would describe her matrimonial home as ‘Egypt’, where the Israelites were enslaved for years before leaving for Canaan.

Bonfire Adventures, started in 2007, is a partnership between the two, who have had a rocky marriage, with a tense 2021 and 2022, before a pregnancy announcement in mid that year.

Maandamano fence-sitters

As Pulser agitated for a shelving of the Finance Bill in a highly charged street action that culminated in a million-plus strong march into Nairobi’s CBD on June 25th, some celebrities faced backlash for either sitting on the fence or supporting the government’s side.

From Eddie Butita to Chipukeezy, Kate Actress to MC Jessy, pulsers and other celebrities name-drop their peers to take a stand.

“At that time, I was very hopeful about his administration. I knew my agenda of the Creative Economy would be achieved. Our CS for creative hasn’t done what is necessary for the creatives. And he knows that very well. I am also tired of pushing them. I am tired of just talks and promises,” MC Jessy wrote.

Others forced to come out and show which side they stood included Abel Mutua, and Langata MP Phelix ‘Jalan’go’ Odiwuor.

Post-maandamano, where hundreds of youth were injured, maimed and killed, clubs and lounges have become protest platforms, where anti-government chants have become as synonymous as deejay drops.

Size 8 says no Mo

After a decade of romance, cheating allegations, children and collaborative projects, gospel singer, actress, entrepreneur and show host Size 8 decided she was done, announcing that she was single.

Size 8, who has left the matrimonial home before, explained after that she took the decision despite her deep love for Deejay Mo, explaining, “As someone who deeply values marriage, leaving someone I love was an excruciatingly difficult decision. I hold no ill will towards Mr. Muraya.”

“I still love him with all my heart. If you could look inside, you would see that love clearly. But the need to request a separation was a necessity, not a choice I made lightly.”

And death robbed us again and again

LGBTQ+ rights advocate, model and actor Jaffar Jackson passed on January 7th, just as the year started, and he would not be the last.

Jaffar, born Jackson Irungu, succumbed to complications arising from a stomach infection. The colourful and stylish showbiz personality was laid to rest on January 18 at Langata Cemetery.

His death came a few days after another colourful social media personality, 24-year-old Instagram model Starlet Wahu, was found murdered on January 3rd.

Starlet, who came from a controversial family, with Pastor Kanyari as a brother and Prophetess Lucy Nduta as her mother, was allegedly strangled and stabbed with a knife in a South B Airbnb by someone she had hooked up with the night before.

On February 3, popular and celebrated Kenyan actor Charles ‘Charlie’ Ouda died at 38 after allegedly committing suicide. Charlie died hours after wrapping a shoot for drama series Salem, according to the cast of the MNET production.

March 17, and Kenyan netizens woke up to the news that popular and controversial Tiktoker Brian Chira had died after a hit-and-run accident in the Karuri area, Kiambu County.

Buried by hundreds of friends, family and his online fans, Chira died while running across the road after a busy night where he was said to have started a commotion in a bar at Gacharage area.

Controversy would follow him to his grave in rural Githunguri, with the over Sh8 million raised in hours after his death causing a split between his grandmother and one of the main fundraisers, Baba Talisha, on how to use the funds.

A day after Chira died, award-winning journalist Rita Tinina died at her Kileleshwa home, with family revealing after her post-mortem that she died of severe pneumonia.

Another veteran journalist and Public Relations practitioner Michael Oyier would die on April 20th while receiving treatment at a city hospital. The soft-spoken news man, who had also worked at KTN, left behind eight children.

Then the whole country stopped when reggage queen and political aspirant Jahmby ‘Fyah Mummah Koikai died at Nairobi hospital on June 4th.

Jahmby, one of Kenya’s most known endometriosis warriors, was buried in what became a reggae concert at Langata cemetery, with mourners clashing with family members on who had the most rights to the 38-year old.

In late October, content creator and actress Tabitha Gatwiri was found dead. According to an autopsy, the Real House Helps of Kawangware actress, 29, died from suffocation, disapproving speculation from her family that she had been poisoned.

Others who passed on this year include sound engineer T’shazi (Okoth Ogendo), world marathon record holder Kelvin Kiptum, Deejay Scratch 1 and Dubai-based Deejay Babu.