Gidi Gidi, the co-host of Radio Jambo’s popular Patanisho show, recently opened up about a life-changing decision he and his music partner Maji Maji made just days before the 2002 general elections.
The duo, then known as Gidi Gidi Maji Maji, were at the peak of their musical careers following the release of their hit song Unbwogable, a track that became a national anthem of resilience and determination.
At the height of their fame, Gidi Gidi and Maji Maji were offered a staggering Sh10 million by representatives of the Kenya African National Union (KANU) to support then-presidential candidate Uhuru Kenyatta.
However, they made the difficult decision to turn it down.
In a recent interview, Gidi Gidi reflected on the moment when KANU agents approached them with the offer.
The duo had already aligned with the National Rainbow Coalition (NARC) led by Mwai Kibaki, and Unbwogable had been adopted as the official campaign song for the coalition.
The song quickly became synonymous with Kibaki’s campaign, galvanizing the masses against the long rule of President Daniel Moi and KANU.
As the song’s popularity surged and helped NARC build momentum in the campaign, KANU agents made a last-ditch effort to counter NARC’s rising influence.
Gidi Gidi recalls that they were visited by the agents late at night, who proposed a counter-offer of Sh10 million in cash.
They wanted the artists to return to the studio and re-record Unbwogable, this time supporting Uhuru Kenyatta. The money, Gidi says, was literally sitting in the boot of a car, ready to be handed over.
“We were very confused. It was an overwhelming offer, and we didn’t know what to do,” Gidi Gidi shared. The duo was young, in their early 20s, and had never been exposed to such a large sum of money. However, several factors weighed heavily on their decision to decline the offer.
Firstly, there was a palpable fear for their safety. The public sentiment at the time was largely against KANU, as many Kenyans were eager for change after 24 years of Moi’s rule.
“We feared for our lives. What if the public turned against us? Everyone was tired of KANU, and aligning ourselves with them could have put us in danger,” Gidi explained.
Additionally, there were concerns about the authenticity of the money. Kenya was experiencing a surge in counterfeit currency, and the duo was unsure if the Sh10 million they were being offered was genuine.
“There was so much fake money in circulation then. We couldn’t be sure if the Sh10 million was real or not,” Gidi said.
While turning down the money was a difficult decision, Gidi believes it ultimately preserved the integrity and impact of Unbwogable.
The song had already become a symbol of resistance and hope, and selling out might have diluted its message.
“Sometimes we regret not taking the money. It was a huge sum, and we were young and naïve. But looking back, I don’t think the song would have had the impact it had if we had changed our stance. The public wouldn’t have forgiven us,” Gidi reflected.
