Nikita Kering reveals how she became Emmy Kosgei’s backup singer at age 8
By William Muthama, June 7, 2026Singer Nikita Kering has shared a remarkable story from her childhood, revealing how she first stepped into the music scene as a backup singer for gospel star Emmy Kosgei at just eight years old.
Speaking in an interview on Sunday, June 7, 2026, Nikita recounted how a simple act of courage opened the door to what would become one of her earliest mentorship experiences in the industry.
She said she approached Emmy Kosgei during a performance moment and offered to sing despite her young age and language barrier.
“I approached her and told her, I don’t speak Kikale, but I can sing your song from beginning to end,” she recalled.
That bold move, she explained, led to an unexpected opportunity to perform alongside the established gospel musician.
Early-stage breakthrough
Nikita said she was invited to sing at events, including weddings, where she took up the role of a backup singer for Emmy Kosgei. At the time, she was still a young child learning how to navigate performance spaces.
The experience, she noted, gave her early exposure to live audiences and professional stage work, long before she became a household name in Kenya’s music industry.
She added that by around age nine, she was already deeply involved in performances and steadily building her confidence on stage.
Mentorship from Emmy Kosgei
Nikita credited Emmy Kosgei for her kindness and willingness to guide her during those formative years, describing her as one of the first people to open a door in her career.
“She was the sweetest person, and from that day she really mentored me,” she said.
The singer noted that the mentorship helped shape her discipline and understanding of the music industry at a very young age, giving her a foundation that would later support her rise as one of Kenya’s standout young artists.
A childhood in music
Beyond singing, Nikita said her childhood was filled with media and performance roles. She later moved into radio at a local FM, hosted children’s programmes, and even appeared on television in her early teens.
She revealed that she was paid about Ksh5,000 per episode, which added up to roughly Ksh15,000 over weekends, money that was carefully saved to support her future music career.