Tharaka Nithi: Struggling musicians abandon microphone for jembe as tough times bite

Jack Murimi, who once made ends meet through music, has had to take up farming to make his daily bread as the music industry has not given him good returns.

"I used to sing Gospel songs at events, but it has been hard to find promoters. When I looked into moving into secular music, things were no different. Clubs were not sponsoring events, so I have had to go into farming to sustain myself," he said.

Joel Muthana, another musician, said he also abandoned the microphone because the cost of production was too high.

"When I'd go to the studio, the producer would demand Ksh10,000, then there are many other costs associated with releasing a song that it didn't make economic sense," he said. 

He went on, "There are times I would ask politicians for funds to help me, but they would go quiet on me."

He also hit out at business owners in the entertainment industry, saying they were not promoting their own.

"You'll find they are playing songs from musicians in Nairobi instead of our local content," he said.

He also claimed that some musicians had resorted to seeking help from witchdoctors.

"We know it is not good, but there are people who are so desperate, that they have decided to seek the help of witchdoctors and sometimes they pay and their music still does not gain popularity and they are left in a worse state than they were," he said.