Kenya Kwanza, Azimio blasted for hiring 'foreign acts' Diamond, Solomon Mkubwa for final campaigns

The Raila-led Azimio camp settled on multi-award winning East African bongo star Diamond Platnumz, while the DP Ruto-led Kenya Kwanza camp enlisted the services of Gospel music titan Solomon Mkubwa. 

Both artists were still trending on Kenyan Twitter on Monday morning, having become unwilling participants in an all-out war of words pitting two political factions against each other.

Critics questioned why the two camps, which claimed to have the silver bullet for Kenya's problems, showed such a complete lack of faith in Kenyan musicians during their penultimate rallies.

Controversial lawyer Miguna Miguna was among Kenyans who weighed in on the matter: 

"They chose to invite and pay Tanzanian artiste Diamond to their last rally at Kasarani Stadium instead of lifting up a Kenyan musician. Unpatriotic," he tweeted. 

Gabrie Oguda, another Tweep, chastised those who questioned Azimio's choice of Diamond Platnumz, pointing out that the proverbial kettles were black in both camps.

"Those going to vote, remember not to leave your brains at home," Ogunda Tweeted. 

"We already have a lot of brainless people walking around claiming that Diamond shouldn't have performed because he isn't Kenyan, as if the Solomon Mkubwa who was at Nyayo Stadium yesterday is from Kamagut," 

Naomi Waithira, also weighed in on the matter, wondering why the UDA uproar didn't include the fact that Mkubwa, despite being a local face, is Congolese.

"UDA is shouting and complaigning about Diamond not being a kenyan musician so Solomon Mkubwa is a Kenyan from riftvalley ama?" Waithira Tweeted. 

Elsewhere, musician Suzanna Owinyo wondered why everyone was fussing, and saw no issue with Diamond bringing the house down in Kasarani. 

"The truth of the matter! Music has no boundaries. You'l look stupid trying to control that. Those yapping about Diamond performance at Kasarani the other day, I urge you to unlock your mindset and think beyond borders," she tweeted.

"This thing must balance. As you cast your vote tomorrow, Rem. we still need each other now & after polls. Let's embrace Peace and Unity," 

Musician Juliani also joined the fray, faulting the Azimio camp for settling on Diamond to light up Kasarani in a last push for votes, 

“Diamond at Kasarani (stadium) was distasteful. Any Kenyan artist would have sufficed,” he wrote on Twitter.

Clay Muganda contended that having cake is one thing, but eating it is quite another. He cited Trio Mio's performance at Kasarani, which drew criticism from KOT. 

"You're angry because Diamond, a Tanzanian, performed at RAO event. Do you remember how angry you were when Trio Mio, a Kenyan, performed at a RAO event at the same Kasarani?" he posed.

According to Kenyan comedian turned rabble-rouser Eric Omondi, the fact that no Kenyan artist was found fit to grace either of the campaign podiums tells a lot.

The comedian who has been at the forefront, agitating for the support for local music said the blame lies squarely on Kenyan artists- that they have failed to rise to the occasion.

 “Put in the work. We need showbiz not this boring and predictable stuff you keep bombarding us with.” Omondi captioned a photo on Instagram. 

Meanwhile, Kenyans head to the polls on Tuesday, August 9 in a race pitting the former opposition leader Raila Odinga agaist Kenya's deputy president of the last 10 years Wiliam Ruto.