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Bien explains why voters should focus on leaders’ performance rather than election debates
21st May, 2026 03:45 PM
Kenyan singer and songwriter Bien has weighed in on the importance of Kenyans taking deliberate time to critically evaluate the performance of their leaders before making consequential decisions on who to retain in office and who to vote out.
Speaking during an interview with a local TV station on Thursday, May 21, 2026, Bien explained that these reflections were the central inspiration behind his widely celebrated 2018 hit “Tujiangalie”, a collaboration with fellow artiste Nyashinski.
He noted that the song was inspired by his observation that public discourse often becomes heavily fixated on electoral cycles and political campaigns, sometimes at the expense of a sober assessment of what leaders have actually delivered while in office.
“What inspired the song ‘Tujiangalie’? I would say that at times, in our quest for democracy, we are too held up in the process rather than focusing on the outcome,” Bien said.
According to him, “Tujiangalie” was crafted as a reflective piece urging citizens to pause, take stock, and engage in meaningful evaluation of leadership outcomes rather than becoming consumed by perpetual election anticipation.
Bien said that in many instances, national conversations shift prematurely toward future elections, even before current leadership terms have been fully assessed, leaving little room for objective reflection on governance and development.
“So we are always, even before this election is over, already talking about the 2027 polls. And we are now going to obsess about the process that comes before 2027, but no. What is the outcome of changing leaders or retaining some?” he clarified.
He explained that the song encourages a more outcome-driven mindset, where leadership is judged not on political rhetoric or campaign promises, but on tangible results and accountability.
He added that the message behind the track is anchored in the need for societal introspection, urging voters to carefully examine whether leaders have fulfilled their mandate before deciding on continuity or change.
Bien emphasised that “Tujiangalie” serves as both a musical and social reminder for Kenyans to remain conscious and intentional in their democratic choices.
“You know, it is about how much they have done while they were in office, and we never take time to do that audit. We are always caught up in the process. . So this is a song that tells us that we need to step back and reflect and look,” he shared.
Unreleased songs
In the same interview, the former Sauti Sol lead singer opened up about his close bond with his mother, revealing that she plays a key role in his creative process by listening to his unreleased music before it is made public.
He said his mother is often the first person to hear his new songs during the production stage, making her one of his most trusted early listeners.
He explained that before officially releasing any track, he sometimes plays it for his mother so she can sample it and give her reaction, noting that her feedback and emotional response matter a lot to him.
“This is mainly because I usually let her listen to my songs before I officially release them, so she is always in love with my music even before it comes out,” Bien said.
He further stated that his mother has developed a strong emotional connection to his unreleased songs over time, noting that she sometimes follows up to ask when specific tracks she has already heard privately will be released. According to him, she becomes excited and fully invested in the music even before it is available to the public.
“My parents pray for me every day. My dad is always playing my music, and my mum also constantly plays my songs. My mum is my biggest fan and she always calls me asking when I am releasing a new track,” Bien said.
Bien also revealed that during a past Christmas gathering, he played an unreleased song for his parents, highlighting how family moments are often used to test and share his creative work before it goes out officially.
“Like recently, during Christmas, I went and played them an unreleased song,” he shared.
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Steve Ireri
Steve is a senior writer with over four years of experience in digital journalism. His focus is on the showbiz and human interest stories. Emails: [email protected] , [email protected]
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