Radio Jambo presenter Gidi Ogidi faced intense backlash after a controversial performance during Kenya’s Jamhuri Day celebrations, which led to a dramatic loss of 10,000 YouTube subscribers. Gidi, along with artists such as Mejja, Jua Cali, and Madtraxx, performed his hit song “Maji Maji” at the event, which was attended by President William Ruto, First Lady Rachael Ruto, and Deputy President Kithure Kindiki. Despite the high-profile lineup, Gidi’s performance sparked a wave of criticism on social media.
Many Kenyans expressed outrage over the artists’ decision to perform at the event, accusing Gidi and others of endorsing the Ruto administration, which has faced criticism for issues such as rising living costs and corruption. This backlash resulted in a significant drop in Gidi’s YouTube following, with his subscriber count plummeting from 72,000 to 61,000 within hours. Some even threatened to boycott his popular Radio Jambo show, Patanisho, co-hosted with Ghost Mulee.
The situation escalated when Gidi responded to a critic, Francis Gaitho, who accused him of supporting “despots.” In his reply, Gidi referenced past violence against the Kikuyu community, including the actions of former Minister John Michuki, which only fueled further outrage. His remark was seen as divisive and unprofessional by many, adding to the controversy surrounding his performance.
