Veteran rapper Madtraxx has strongly condemned controversial anti-government blogger Francis Gaitho for threatening musicians scheduled to perform at Jamhuri Day celebrations on December 12, 2024.
The rapper’s remarks came in response to Gaitho’s post on social media, which warned artistes of potential consequences for participating in the national event.
In a tweet posted on Wednesday, December 11, 2024, Gaitho shared a video clip of Gen Z activist Kasmuel McOure being chased away by protestors from the End Femicide march, using the footage to imply that musicians who dared to perform at the Jamhuri Day event would face a similar fate.
“The artistes who DARE perform tomorrow at Jamhuri Day celebrations, you’ve been WARNED! This will be the routine everywhere you go,” Gaitho captioned the video.
He continued: “Even Kasmuel McOure concocted circumstantial rationalization to justify his misguided decision to join Raila Odinga. But we don’t really care. If you think your pursuit of ‘unga’ begins where freedom, justice, equality and economic prosperity ends, you’re in for a rude shock.”
Gaitho then threatened the artistes further, declaring, “You will pay DEARLY for trying to sanitize the William Ruto regime. Your careers will die tomorrow. Jaribuni muone. #RutoMustGo.”
Madraxx reacts
Madtraxx, however, was quick to respond to Gaitho’s warning, slamming the blogger’s attempt to intimidate musicians.
his response, Madtraxx emphasized that Jamhuri Day is a national holiday, not an event owned by President William Ruto or his political party.
“Tomorrow is a National holiday, not UDA or William Ruto day. We are proud of the music we have produced within the borders of this country. William Ruto can’t stop us from celebrating our country,” Madtraxx wrote.
He further told Gaitho to stop threatening musicians, asserting, “We are not politicians. We leave politics to you,” tagging Gaitho’s Twitter handle @FGaitho237.
Boycott campaign
Gaitho’s threats to musicians scheduled to perform at Jamhuri Day follow a recent boycott campaign against the hip-hop group Wadagliz for their performance at the Mashujaa Day celebrations on October 20, 2024.
The boycott campaign was spearheaded by people who objected to the group’s appearance at a government event.
Interestingly, it was Kasmuel who came out strongly to defend Wadagliz against those who sought to cancel them.
In a passionate self-recorded video posted on social media, Kasmuel criticized those who led the campaign, accusing them of hypocrisy and autocratic tendencies for targeting the hip hop group, known for their hit song ‘Anguka Nayo’, merely because they performed at a government function.
“You are shamelessly running a campaign to cancel Wadagliz on your page, right? Because they performed at Mashujaa Day – at a State function,” Kasmuel said, directly calling out the individuals spearheading the boycott.
His frustration was evident as he defended the artistes’ right to perform, regardless of the event’s political connotations.
He further pointed out the irony in the boycott campaign, highlighting that those who tried to cancel Wadagliz shared similarities with the very leaders they claimed to oppose.
“There is no difference between you and that dictator which you are trying to oust,” Kasmuel declared.
“You don’t support these guys because you were not singing that song until the protest came but the young men were in studio working hard,” Kasmuel noted.
He further stressed that attempts to cancel Wadagliz would not succeed, predicting that if the group continued working diligently at their craft, they would eventually dominate the airwaves.
The activist also criticized those leading the boycott for their lack of genuine support for the group, asking, “You don’t stream their music, you don’t support them… When was the last time you proposed them for a corporate gig? For any Mashujaa Day celebrations that you planned, did you invite them?”
