Kenya’s gospel industry is a disaster waiting to happen and is unfolding one scandal after another, exposing a web of deceit, sex scandals, controversial lifestyle and promiscuous ‘born again’ who deny responsibility after making a lady pregnant.
Well-placed sources in the industry reveal that it is a hustle like any other in which man must survive at all costs with the scam and scandals in the industry drawing in established names and upcoming ones as well.
The recent scandal in which DK Kwenye Beat and Hopkid admitted engaging in a threesome with a Nakuru lady who claims she was infected with herpes and Human Papiloma Virus (HPV) is just a tip of the iceberg with multiple sources confirming that a lot go on behind the scenes.
Whenever their actions come to light, the disgraced gospel artistes quickly shift the blame to the Devil, and seek to redeem themselves by claiming that the evil was done during the dark days before they had an encounter with Jesus.
In the case of DK Kwenye Beat and Hopkid, Singer Size 8 gave them an opportunity to apologize and attempted to join them in asking for forgiveness before a backlash from the public compelled her to make a hasty retreat, condemning their actions.
The devil and haters are to blame
Several people interviewed for this publication hold that such apologies are often not sincere and is only done to save their image and career, and they have good reason to believe so.
Between 2014 and 2015, media reports indicated that Bahati had taken the Gospel to the bed, placing a lady in the family way. In the wake of the reports, he denied all accusations, blaming it on haters.
Fast-forward to May 2017, Bahati would introduce his 2 year old daughter Bahati Mueni to the world in a post that read “…2 Years ago was the beginning of a special lifetime Blessing from God. Allow me to introduce to you the Angel that God blessed me with, My First Born Daughter.
Simple calculation reveal that the daughter was conceived at around the same time that Bahati was reported to have made a lady pregnant, allegations he dismissed as rumors and blamed his haters.
The public faulted Bahati for taking two years to own up to his fatherly responsibilities as it emerged that the baby’s mother is Yvette Obura, whom the singer reportedly broke up with when he found out she was pregnant about two years earlier.
No reference was made to the baby’s mother or earlier reports of making a lady pregnant then dumping her, prompting the public to believe that Bahati lied about the pregnancy scandal to save his career.
Others blame their “haters”-people who are not impressed with their progress for spreading rumors and lies about them and deny all accusations even though some of it may be true. Few accept responsibility, acknowledge their mistakes and genuinely apologize.
Ditching secular music for gospel and controversial lifestyles
Every industry has mentors and the Gospel industry has several. From men of the cloth feasting on the flock to those living a controversial and flashy lifestyle financed by the congregation, it is a booming industry that attracts many entrants every other day.
From sex scandals, controversial lifestyle that contradict the teachings of the Bible, engaging in alcohol and drug use and abuse, denying pregnancies and promiscuous lifestyle in which gospel artistes sleep around with fans and aspiring musicians, the list is endless.
However, key to thriving is maintaining a positive image as a born again Christian in the eyes of the public while engaging in desires of the flesh behind the scenes.
The trend, sources reveal, has seen some musicians in Kenya opt for a change in career, ditching secular music for gospel, claiming that they have had an encounter with Christ.
Multiple sources reveal that only a few are genuine. Most do so to avoid the stiff competition in the crowded secular music industry to gospel where the competition is not as stiff. Most carry with them the scandals and aspect of their secular music to the gospel industry.
Worth noting is that not all fruits in the basket are rotten. A few gospel artiste are astute Christians who continue to impact positively on the lives of others, inspiring a generation of Kenyans and life a life free from the scandals and deceit that their controversial counterparts live.