10 Songs That Have Become The Anthems of Kenya’s Ongoing Political Protests
In the wake of nationwide protests prompted by the rejection of the proposed controversial 2024 financial bill driven mainly by the country’s community of Generation Zs, Kenya is experiencing a significant shift in its digital activism and music has been integral to the ongoing protests.
With songs such as Eric Wainaina’s “Daima,” Wadagliz Ke’s “Anguka Nayo,” Juliani’s “Utawala (niko njaa),” Fathermoh’s “Kudade” featuring others, “Dedi Dedilee (Gotha),” and many others serving as unofficial anthems in peaceful countrywide marches and soundtracks to Tiktok videos, artists across generations, styles and genres are expressing rage, resolve, mourning, patriotism and solidarity as they decry the current government’s failure to exercise prudence in its spending amidst growing debt and high cost of living.
A new generation of artists is addressing their eroded trust in President Ruto’s government and police violence in a way that hasn’t been heard in decades not just through songs with powerful lyrics, but also through party anthems to convey the spirit behind the protests. Peace and love, not war. And for this generation, there has not been any better way to demonstrate their peaceful nature than through music and dance.
These 10 songs showcase some of the best anthems so far.
Anguka Nayo by Wadagliz Ke
What began simply as a party anthem shortly after the onset of protests in the capital recently became a prophecy fulfilled when President Ruto dissolved the cabinet by dismissing all the current 22 Cabinet secretaries including the Attorney General. ‘Anguka Nayo’ which in Swahili loosely ‘means fall down with it’ has since transcended partying lines into the protests’ clarion call both on the streets and online to bring down corrupt leaders.
Daima by Eric Wainaina
Released in 2001 on his Sawa Sawa album during a tumultuous time in Kenya, Daima became the patriotic to bring back sanity to a beautiful land that was rapidly consuming itself after the 2007 elections. Since then, Daima continues to be one of Kenya’s most enduring patriotic anthems. It is no wonder then that as Kenyans recently peacefully marched the streets of Nairobi and across various towns with raised fists, the words “Daima mimi mkenya, mwananchi mzalendo” rent the air.
Utawala (Niko Njaa) by Juliani
This song which most Kenyans renamed Niko Njaa (I’m hungry)is from Juliani’s 3rd album Utawala released in 2010. The song became one of the country’s biggest hits and has remained evergreen due to its conscious lyrics which speak out against the evils that have continued to bedevil the country; tribalism, selfishness, and corruption. It is no surprise that the song has once more resonated with a new generation of young angry Kenyans, who, like their predecessors, ‘wako njaa hata hawawezi karanga’ (are too hungry and broke to afford anything to fry).
Reject Hiyo Bill by Sabi Wu
With a sampled beat from Kendrick Lamar’s diss track “Not like us”, Sabi Wu’s Reject Hiyo is rap song that has since become one of the themes of a movement created expresses frustrations and to protest against the government.
“I freestyled the chorus and first verse in under 15 minutes and put it up on social media not really expecting anything,” the rapper told Rolling Stone. “People resonated with it so much so I completed and released the song after.”
Wanapanga Kutumaliza by King Kaka
This song whose original lyrics were inspired by the highly controversial charismatic preacher Pastor Ng’ang’a, premiered on 24th June days after the anti-finance bill protests began. In the opening verse, King Kaka’s rap comes out guns blazing “Kumbe Millennials na Majenzi ndio dawa ya washenzi” (so, you mean Millenials and Gen Zs are the antidote to the bigots)
Dedi Dedilee (Gotha) by Breeder LW
This hit, made popular by a Safaricom and Dance98 dance challenge in April this year, together with ‘kudade’ and ‘Anguka nayo’ were the reigning country’s hits ranking among YouTube’s top 10 list as the anti-tax protests began on 18th June. Indeed, the dance moves and routine perfected. But it was the video of one protestor who has since been christened Gotha Wamgothee whose interview went viral that embodied the song into the movement.
Maandamano by Bien
Written and performed by Bien of Sauti Sol, Bensoul and Breeder LW, Maandamano was released on 8th July as a way to capture the spirit of the movement whilst also articulating the issues that the protests have raised. It is currently the number 1 trending song on YouTube. At the time of this article’s publication, the song’s lyric visualizer had garnered almost half a million views.
Tujiangalie by Sauti Sol
Premiered in 2018 and co-written by Nyashinski, Tujiangalie is a political and protest song that calls Kenyans into introspection on their social, economic and political state even as it seemingly predicts a time when this generation will rise. It is a poignant song that calls out the millennials (the generation preceding the GenZs) for just being ‘Keyboard Warriors’ with the same fervour as it does warning its listeners
to solve their problems before it is too late. Six years later, much of what the song spoke of has since come to pass. No wonder it has resonated so greatly with many in the protests now entering the 4th week.
Reject Finance Bill by Makolabo
Released a day before the offline protests to reject the 2024 Finance Bill began, this protest rap song uses the beats of the popular track ‘Tuendelee’ by the rap duo Kleptomaniax with rap verses written and delivered by Makolabo. On the chorus, Makoloba creatively revises the hit’s chant “Tuendelee ama tusiendelee” rephrasing it with “waendelee ama wasiendelee” about President Ruto’s current government.
AI-generated songs
Several artificially generated songs were created using platforms such as suno.com with apt lyrics. They also deserve a mention.
Reject - Sir Newson
REJECT THE FINANCE BILL REGGAE - Black Nation
Ruto must go - Ai generated Reggae song
Colonial Police - Mr Guy Kenya
REJECT THE FINANCE BILL 2024 by Noel made it
