Kenyan entertainers enter political arena

By Alice Muthengi
BBC Focus on Africa magazine

John Kiarie is noted for his impressions of Kenya's first lady

Over the last five years, John Kiarie has had Kenyans in stitches with his impressions of Kenya's first lady, Lucy Kibaki.

Kiarie - or KJ, as he is popularly known - is a member of Redykulass, Kenya's most popular comedy act, from whom no politician can escape ridicule. In the late 1990s, the three college friends even dared to satirise former President Daniel arap Moi, whose aversion to criticism was infamous.

But now, in the run-up to the 27 December elections, KJ will ditch his first lady's wig, don a smart suit and take to the political arena, standing for election for the Orange Democratic Movement.

And he is not alone, as other entertainers are also aiming to unseat political giants in parliament and local government.

It is the first time that the world of entertainment has collided in Kenya with the world of politics in such a way.

Generational change

Kenyans are used to seeing artists partnering politicians during campaigns, but their role has previously been primarily to entertain and warm up the crowds for aspiring candidates.

Marketing, rather than election manifestos and political promises, has usually been foremost on musicians' minds.

After all, elections are great platforms for selling music.

In 2002, when the National Rainbow Coalition that brought Mwai Kibaki to power endorsed the group Gidigidi Majimaji's song Unbwogable (Unbeatable), it became a political anthem and its sales rapidly escalated.

KJ is part of the Orange Democratic Movement's campaign

But more than anything, the song showed that while old men dominated politics, change was in the air in a country where more than half the population is between the ages of 18 and 35.

"We want to tell people it's time for a generational change," says musician and comedian Peter Kaimenyi Kajairo, who resigned from a top job with one of Kenya's leading commercial FM radio stations to stand for parliament.

And as part of their efforts the comedians, rappers and DJs have been campaigning to ensure that young people use their vote.

The music group Vijana Tugutuke has staged concerts across the country to large crowds, urging apolitical 18-year-olds to get identity documents and voter cards.

The Institute for Education in Democracy says the number of registered young voters went up by one million thanks to the drive.

And more people under the age of 35 are vying for parliamentary and civic seats than ever before.

Despite their fame, some of the celebrity candidates did not make it past the nomination stage - crippled by, among other factors, financial limitations.

Parliamentary aspirants were required to deposit a non-refundable nomination fee of nearly $2,000.

Moreover, a new law introduced by the Kenya Electoral Commission barred nomination losers from switching political parties.

Taking the heat

But why are the nation's artists being lured into politics?

In a country with an unemployment rate of about 40%, it is undeniable that for some, the seduction of parliament is a $40,000 annual salary and other perks.

In contrast, few artists can make a decent living. Piracy - as in many other countries in Africa - is a big problem, and often entertainers have to find other businesses to supplement their income.

However, Kajairo denies this is the reason behind the huge wave of entertainers ditching the arts for politics.

''We have a responsibility as entertainers - we cannot sit and watch things go wrong, everything is determined by leadership,'' he says.

He adds that if nothing else, the election campaign will have sown the seed for the young to turn from passive spectators in politics to decision-makers.

And for the next five years, Kenyans can count on more laughter as they watch some former entertainers take the heat from some of their "own".