Why Gidi Gidi and Maji Maji Turned Down Sh10 Million to Back Uhuru Kenyatta

Just days before the 2002 general elections, popular hip-hop duo Gidi Gidi and Maji Maji were offered a staggering Sh10 million to support then-presidential candidate Uhuru Kenyatta, but they declined the proposal. At the time, the duo, in their early 20s, had just released their hit song *Unbwogable*, produced by the renowned music producer Tedd Josiah. The song had become an anthem for the Narc coalition, led by the late President Mwai Kibaki, helping to energize voters as Kibaki sought to end the 24-year rule of former President Daniel Moi.

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Moi, under pressure from both the international community and Kenyans, had announced a year earlier that he would not seek re-election and instead supported Kenyatta as his successor, running under KANU. Narc, a formidable coalition of several political parties, adopted *Unbwogable* as their campaign song, a move that helped rally the public behind Kibaki and against KANU’s long dominance.

Gidi Gidi, now a radio presenter, revealed that Narc compensated the duo for using the song, offering them Sh800,000. The song’s massive exposure also led to a surge in shows and performances. However, as *Unbwogable* became increasingly associated with Kibaki’s campaign, agents from KANU approached Gidi Gidi and Maji Maji with a counter-offer. The agents, arriving late at night, proposed that the duo re-record the song to show support for KANU and Uhuru Kenyatta, offering Sh10 million in cash, which they had brought along in the trunk of their car.

The offer left Gidi Gidi and Maji Maji conflicted, but ultimately, they turned it down. Gidi Gidi explained that one reason for rejecting the deal was fear for their safety, given the public’s overwhelming frustration with the KANU regime. Additionally, concerns over the authenticity of the Sh10 million, as counterfeit currency was rampant at the time, also influenced their decision.

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Reflecting on the decision years later, Gidi Gidi admits it’s a bittersweet memory. “Sometimes we regret not taking the money. We could have made the changes they wanted, taken the money, and laid low until things settled because it was a significant amount. But we were young and inexperienced. On the other hand, had we diluted the song, it might not have had the lasting impact it still holds today.”