Gospel musician Bahati, whose real name is Kevin Kioko, has sued his fellow artiste, Peter Blessing, on allegations that Blessing obtained Ksh2 million from him by false pretense.
Peter Blessing, 20, was arraigned before Milimani Chief Magistrate Martha Mutuku on Tuesday, January 28.
Bahati, in his statement, told the court that Peter Blessing approached him in 2019, and told him [Bahati] that he could produce music videos for the Barua star’s record label, EMB. Bahati said he paid Peter Blessing Ksh2 million up front.
On the day when he was supposed to start producing the music videos, Peter Blessing allegedly declined to show up, saying he “was no longer interested in working with Bahati”.
Peter Blessing, who denied the allegations, said he and the Mama hit-maker, 26, had never entered into such a contract.
Blessing, through his lawyers Festus Mbati and Francis Karanja, said, contrary to Bahati’s claims, it was the EMB Records founder who actually owes Blessing Ksh1 million.
Peter Blessing, whose real name is Peter Manyalo, was signed as an artiste under Bahati’s EMB Records in 2019. The contract, Blessing says, was to last at least 20 years.
And after a year of being signed under the stable, Peter Blessing, who grew up in Voi, Taita Taveta County, left the record label, accusing Bahati of failing to pay him his dues amounting to Ksh1 million.
Bahati, as a result, sued Peter Blessing for reneging on a legally-binding agreement, and obtaining money from him under false pretense.
Peter Blessing was on Tuesday released on Ksh200, 000 cash bail, with a hearing date for the case set for later 2020.
Peter Blessing, through his lawyers, claims he never received any formal contract from Bahati which asked him to be a producer at EMB.
Blessing’s legal team says it has given Bahati 14 days to pay their client Ksh1 million, failure of which, they will countersue Bahati.
