‘Mum has Cancer’: Rapper Mustafa opens up after viral video of him working at a construction site

After his viral video rocked the internet, renowned Kenyan rapper Colonel Mustafa has admitted to have fallen on hard times.

The rapper, who was secretly recorded working at a construction site, looking rather dishevelled but still maintaining a proud face, now says that, after his mother contracted Cancer, he had to find ways to support her medication and general treatment hence manual labor came in handy.

He said that he has been working at a construction site for over a year now, and that many of his friends couldn't quite manage to help him with the finances.

While speaking on several media outlets, including at Mseto East Africa, Mustafa admitted to have been in the rough financially but that it was the least he could do to keep himself and his sick mother afloat.

“Mum got Cancer. The medication became too much and therefore, I had to find employment of any sort since I needed to support her and didn't have any other means to do that,” he said.

“It just so happened that someone secretly recorded me and exposed me. I don't know why. That's how you all got to know about my situation.”

Mustafa also spoke about his mother's treatment and said that supporters and friends had called him to offer their words of support.

“Mum is currently undergoing chemotherapy tests. She's also doing blood tests too and, in fact, yesterday we just did another blood test. I'm grateful for everyone who has reached out and called me, shown their love," he said, his voice breaking away.

"This is just life. It's just the way of life. I've been doing this for quite a while now and I didn't want it to reach the public but here we are. I just need a little time, all shall be alright."

Mustafa also denied that he was pulling stunts either to promote a new song or project and maintained that his mum actually did get Cancer and that pushed him into the social periphery.

"No, it's just that Mum got Cancer and the bills became unmanageable," he said, teary-voiced.

In a separate interview, while sounding stoic, amidst the adversity, Mustafa prided himself on having chosen the right path, even in the face of insurmountable challenges.

"My message is - at least, I didn't steal, didn't involve myself in illegal activities. I made my money the legitimate way, I used my hands to feed myself and didn't turn a criminal. In fact, the 'Mjengo' hustle has really been a blessing to me. This is life. One day you're rich, next day you're not. It is what it is," he remarked.