Mashujaa Day: Wainaina speaks on the making of ‘Nchi ya Kitu Kidogo’ hit
Music legend Eric Wainaina has shared his inspiration behind the ‘nchi ya kitu kidogo‘ hit, which was released under President Daniel Arap Moi’s regime.
The song, which translates to “the land of petty corruption,” was released in 2001 and has been on the airwaves for 24 years.
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Eric, while speaking in an interview with a local media house on Monday, October 20, 2025, as the nation commemorates Mashujaa Day, described the turn of events that led to the birth of the song two decades ago.
On his part, just after his overseas stay, he returned to Kenya and sadly lost his national identification card, which resulted in his visit to the Central Police Station.
He went on describing his encounter with a woman at the reception of Central Police Station who asked him for some money before releasing his ID.
“Actually, that song was born from the fact that I’d gone to Central Police Station because I’d lost my ID,” Eric recalled.
According to Wainiaina, the lady behind the counter candidly showed him his ID while telling him of another possibility of the ID being lost if he did not give her some money.
“And the lady behind the counter said, ‘Okay, step into the office with me,’ and she said, ‘Is this your ID?’ I said, “Yes,” and she said, “Unajua inaweza potea tena,” Wainaina said.
At the time, Eric described how the lady asked for Ksh200 in order for him to get his identification card.
“It’s just, it was very clear, 200 bob, that’s how that’s gonna go ama ipotee tena,” Eric recounted.
Wainaina, whose catalogue spans decades of Kenyan music history, has had hit songs like “Dek Dek,” “Sawa Sawa,” “Selina,” and “Joka.”
Wainaina mourns Raila.
On the other hand, while describing the current political scheme in Kenya, Wainaina further took on to pay his tribute to the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
At the time, the Daima and Nchi Ya Kitu Kidogo hitmaker acknowledged that while the leader faced criticism for collaborating with the government in recent years, his overall contributions to the nation were far greater.
Wainaina reflected on Raila’s five-decade-long political career, noting how he transformed from a young university activist in jeans to a national leader whose actions were guided by principle and vision.
He said, “People are complex, you know. He did a lot more good than that one blemish in his career,” highlighting Raila’s efforts to maintain peace during periods of national tension, including during the Gen Z protests.
