'DJ Hakuna?' ODM unveils new party DJ after Spider defected to Sifuna's faction

DJ Spider, the veteran ODM disc jockey who entertained Raila Odinga-led rallies for close to a decade, is no longer part of the Oburu Odinga-affiliated ODM faction.

Speaking exclusively to Citizen Digital, Spider confirmed that he was now allied to Edwin Sifuna's Linda Mwananchi group, declaring his unwavering support for the splinter group and revealing that, even before joining the Sifuna-led brigade, he had not been playing at the Linda Ground rallies anyway.

"I had been away from Linda Ground for long. I didn't play at the Homa Bay rallies or elsewhere. It suddenly became an issue after I joined Edwin Sifuna in Busia. I'm fully affiliated with the Linda Mwananchi team. I'm 100% Sifunated!" he declared.

The DJ conversation started going viral online after the ODM party leader, Oburu Oginga, was recently shocked that he could not dance to his favourite music, prompting him to loudly ask, "DJ hakuna?" (There is no DJ?).

While looking around anxiously, a confused Oginga appeared to have been readying himself for an entertainment break before he realised that there was no DJ at hand to work up the crowd.

In his usual disoriented nature, he wondered, "DJ hakuna?" with Kenyans quickly turning the quip into laughable audio slop on TikTok.

As the debate raged on, the newly-installed Secretary General, Busia County Woman Representative Catherine Omanyo, took to her X account to share photos of the new DJ unit currently rendering services to the Linda Ground group.

Appearing to calm rumours of a DJ absence, Omanyo simply wrote: "Tuko na DJ". The new ODM DJs are DJ Ibra and DJ Pinto Cahil. 

However, Kenyans flooded the comment section with unflattering comments, many declaring their support for DJ Spider and others mocking the new pair of DJs as rookies.

"We want Raila Odinga's DJ. Not these unknown rookies. Hawa wanakaa DJ wa disco matanga. You need to bring back DJ Spider to energize your dying outfit," someone mocked.

In recent weeks, Sifuna has openly discussed his association with DJ Spider, describing the entertainer’s involvement in their campaigns.

“They want to give Spider one hell of an offer. I will not feel bad if they ‘steal him from me’, as long as they give him the money I am not giving him because he is a volunteer,” Sifuna said in an interview.

“The DJ came with us, you know, we never steal because we are not thieves. It was his own decision to join us. We never pay, so if they decide to give him a good amount, then he will do the work.”

The Linda Mwananchi group represents a faction within ODM that has openly challenged some of the party’s central leadership decisions, including the direction of alliances with other political formations.

Sifuna’s faction has sometimes been characterised as more combative and distinct in its appeal to ordinary citizens, contrasting with the Linda Ground wing aligned with Oburu Oginga and Gladys Wanga.

Competent DJs have historically been a staple at major ODM events, helping energise supporters and project a sense of unity, as well as becoming the perfect cue to major announcements, proclamations and perfect zingers.