Musician Behind 'Ikamba' Song Charged with Ethnic Contempt, Freed on Sh700,000 Cash Bail

One of the musicians who released the infamous 'Ikamba' song that mocked the Kamba community was on Monday charged with ethnic contempt.

However, appearing before Nairobi Chief Magistrate Francis Andayi, the artiste, John Gichiri, denied the charges and was freed on a Sh1 million bond with a surety of the same amount or a cash bail of Sh 700,000.

The prosecution told the court that the song was aimed at stirring ethnic hatred between the Kamba and Kikuyu communities.

“On unknown date at an unknown place within the republic of Kenya, jointly with other not before the court, while singing a song titled Ikamba uttered words which were intended to incite feeling of contempt against two communities,” prosecution said.

The court heard that lines in the Kikuyu song translate to: "Be cursed, mangoes are getting finished. It's a matter of time before you start eating termites. Be cursed, it's a matter of time before you start eating birds."

"Kamba land is a place of starvation. We stop buying charcoal you die. [If] you want to see a Kamba just go where there are tyres. Hard jobs are theirs." 

Gichira, together with a co-artiste released the song in reaction to the ban on charcoal burning in Kitui by Governor Charity Ngilu.

The judge set April 11th as his trial date.