Lil Maina opens up on dropping out of university to focus on music
By William Muthama, March 22, 2026Rapper Lil Maina has opened up about his decision to drop out of university, choosing instead to fully commit to his growing music career.
Speaking in an interview on Sunday, March 22, 2026, with MIC CHEQUE PODCAST, the rapper revealed that balancing academics and music had become increasingly difficult. While studying abroad in the United States, he found himself struggling to keep up with both worlds.
Lil Maina explained that being away from Kenya made it harder to stay connected to his craft. The distance, he said, created a gap between him and the opportunities he was trying to build back home.
“I was trying to balance school and my career, but it wasn’t working,” he shared. “When you’re far from where things are happening, it’s different.”
Although he had initially enrolled in a business management course, he admitted that his passion was always rooted in music. He even considered switching to something more aligned with his interests, such as music production, but the uncertainty remained.
Difficult but personal decision
The decision to leave university was not easy, especially with family expectations in play. The Kishash hitmaker noted that part of his motivation to study abroad was to fulfil a promise to his mother.
However, as time went on, he began to question whether he was pursuing something that truly aligned with his goals.
Eventually, he made the call to drop out, choosing clarity and purpose over pressure.
Despite leaving school, Lil Maina has not ruled out continuing his education in the future. In fact, he expressed a strong desire to go back but this time on his own terms.
He revealed that he wants to fund his own education when he returns, turning it into a personal challenge and milestone.
“I’ll go back, but only if I pay for it myself,” he said.