From day one, we promised to push Kenyan music and culture to the world—and this year we’ve been doing exactly that. Here’s a spirited round-up of what we’ve launched, who we’ve amplified, and where we’re headed next. Spoiler: September is about to be a movie. 🎬 🚀 February: Website Glow-Up We kicked off the year by upgrading our website, making it easier for artists, DJs, and show hosts to plug […]
Politics is full of secrecy. As the electorate, we only know what politicians tell us, not what they are thinking. For the first time ever, a politician is telling it all. The good, the bad, and the ugly, and we must admit that this is unprecedented. Former Deputy President, Rigathi Gachagua, has made it his life mission to expose all the lies and schemes that happened during his short stint […]
With two years left to Kenya’s next general elections, we have already begun to see different candidates declaring their interest in the country’s top job. The constitution of Kenya outlines very clearly what the requirements are to be eligible to run for office. Despite these requirements being enshrined in the constitution and gazetted by the Independent Election and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), every election cycle, we see many people declare their […]
It appears as though every other day, a Kenyan loses their life in the hands of the Kenyan police. As Radio 254, we believe that one life lost is too much as nobody should have to lose their life for speaking up but that is the sad reality that Kenyans are facing under the regime of William Ruto. It has not been even three years since this government came to […]
Hip-hop, at its core, has always been more than just beats and rhymes; it is a potent, unfiltered voice of the streets, a chronicle of societal triumphs and tribulations, and a powerful catalyst for change.1 Globally, from Public Enemy's searing critiques of systemic injustice in the US with anthems like "Fight the Power," to Kendrick Lamar's Pulitzer-winning reflections on race and identity, the genre has consistently provided a platform for […]
After nearly two months of cryptic tweets, late-night Instagram Lives, and snippets shared in dingy studio corners, Wakadinali’s Victims of Madness 2.0 has finally dropped — and it lands like a concrete slap on Nairobi’s underground rap scene. The Rong Rende collective, known for transforming street slang into anthems and drill cadences into cultural phenomena, teased this project as a return to their roots while simultaneously promising sonic reinvention. Fans […]
To the Government of Kenya, We, the people, would like to inform you of what is going on in the country because you seem to be so oblivious and tone deaf to the situation. On June 25th, the people of Kenya, Gen Zote, came out both mourn and honor the living of the many Kenyan youths that have lost their lives as a result of your government’s actions. Unfortunately, the […]
In Greek mythology, Pandora, driven by curiosity, opened a forbidden box, unleashing plagues, sorrow, and chaos upon humanity, leaving only hope trapped inside. Once opened, the box’s evils could not be contained, a cat irrevocably let out of the bag. On June 17, 2025, the Kenyan state, through its response to protests in Nairobi and Mombasa, appeared to open its own Pandora’s box, unleashing anarchy that spiraled beyond control. The […]
Welcome to the June 20 edition of New Music on the Radar, where we track the pulse of Kenya’s evolving soundscape. This week’s roundup offers a diverse sonic buffet — from the sharpened symbolism of Buruklyn Boyz’s Machete, to the heartfelt vows exchanged in Jovial and Otile Brown’s wedding anthem I Got You. Toxic Lyrikali rides a Jamaican riddim into Nairobi’s lived reality on Backbencher, while Gwaash teams up with […]
