Mugithi star Waithaka wa Jane was detained for five hours at a German airport, missing rehearsals.
What was meant to be a triumphant European tour for Kikuyu Mugithi sensation Waithaka wa Jane ended in controversy. Upon arriving in Germany, the artist was detained at the airport for nearly five hours, causing him to miss rehearsals for the highly publicised Ngemi cia Germany concert.
The spotlight quickly turned to Joseph Kamau, popularly known as Rafikis Am Main, a prominent Kenyan promoter in Germany. According to insiders, Kamau allegedly alerted German authorities ahead of Waithaka’s arrival, sparking the detention. Reports also suggest he tried to disrupt the event by reaching out to venue owners and even contacting the German Embassy in Nairobi to block visas for other artists.
These actions have fueled accusations that Kamau is trying to dominate the Mugithi scene in Europe claim that has shadowed him for years but has never surfaced so dramatically.
Kamau denied the sabotage allegations, insisting his involvement was purely procedural.
“There was never any intent to harm the artist or the event. I was simply following up on concerns that were raised regarding proper documentation and event management protocols,” he explained.
Despite his defence, many in the diaspora remain unconvinced, pointing to the timing and sequence of events.
The saga has triggered widespread backlash in Germany’s Kenyan community. Diaspora fans and musicians have flooded social media with calls to boycott events tied to Rafikis Am Main, with some demanding an official probe into whether false reporting played a role in Waithaka’s detention.
“This is not just about one artist,” a Nairobi-based promoter noted. “It’s about gatekeeping and power plays that damage the entire industry.”
While some continue to defend Kamau for his long-standing contributions to Kenyan music in Europe, the controversy has left deep cracks in the diaspora entertainment industry. The Ngemi cia Germany event eventually took place, but under a cloud of tension and division.
With the fallout still unfolding, Berlin now sits at the centre of a growing storm in the Kenyan music diaspora.
