Compiling a list of the richest musicians in Kenya along with their net worth can be a daunting task, to say the least. In order to ensure we remained objective in ranking the riches Kenyan musicians as of 2018, we used a few basic parameters. Some of these parameters include:
- Sales on iTunes
- Endorsement deals
- Income from shows and tours
- Properties and/or business owned
- Artiste having their own label or brand
These parameters played an instrumental role in helping us come up with a comprehensive and objective list of the richest musicians in Kenya.
Richest Musicians in Kenya 2018
Let’s now have a look at each of the musicians one by one and how much they or worth.
1. Jaguar
After making his music debut more than a decade ago, the kigeugeu hitmaker has grown to become one of the richest musicians in Kenya. Jaguar has won multiple music awards and is one of the few Kenyan artistes to have released hit after hit for more than a decade. Currently he represents Starehe constituents in Parliament. Jaguar is a renowned artiste cum entrepreneur, and has invested in transport industry, real estates, construction industry, motor industry and the music industry. He owns a security firm, taxi firm, an auto garage and Air Jaguar, an aviation company based in Wilson Airport, all of which ensure money keeps flowing in for the talented artiste.
Apart from releasing several hit songs, Jaguar also co-owns MainSwitch Productions, a music record label. Among others, Jaguar owns Range Rover Sport, Mercedes Benz E240, BMWs, Bentley, Toyota Land cruiser, and Lexus GL 450. Apart from the expensive rides, the musician also owns palatial homes Athi River and his rural home of Nyeri. The Starehe MP has had endorsement deals from Coca-Cola (Coke Studio Africa). Lastly, Jaguar is also the director of NACADA, a government agency against alcohol and drug abuse.
2. Akothee
Akothee loves to live a flashy lifestyle, and never shy from showing off what she owns. Apart from having released a few hit songs over the past few years, Akothee owns several businesses that will always put her on the list of the top richest musicians in Kenya. In the hospitality industry she has Akothee Safaris, tours and travels company that serves both local and international tourists. She also owns Morning Star Diani, a beach resort in Diani as well as a real estate company called Akothee Properties. Akothee has also invested heavily in transport industry, and owns cabs that operate in Mombasa. Akothee own several palatial homes in Kenya and Switzerland. She has a Ksh 80 Million home in Rongo, Migori, a mansion in North Coast beachfront worth Ksh 100 Million as well as a Ksh 80 Million home in the leafy suburbs of Nairobi.
Apart from owning such expensive mansions, Akothee has a knack for flashy cars as we highlighted on our previous post: 8 Expensive Cars Owned by Akothee. Among them include Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, Mercedes E class coupe amg 2015, AMG SL 63 Convertible Roadster, Ferrari 488 and Porsche Panamera. The other day she claimed to be paying school fees of Ksh 3,125,000 per term for her 5 kids.
3. Sauti Sol
The band has been in the music industry for more than a decade, and has won several local and international awards including BET Awards 2015, Kisima Awards, MTV Europe Music Award and Channel O Music Awards. Sauti Sol rank among the richest musicians in Kenya. The band has received multiple brand endorsements from the likes of Coca-Cola (Coke Studio Africa) and Safaricom. They have also signed multi-million partnership deals with East Africa Breweries to endorse Chrome Vodka.
The renowned band is also British Council Kenyan World Voice ambassadors and Giants Club Ambassadors. These multi-million endorsement and partnership deals, coupled with their never ending corporate show performances and tours have played an integral role in growing their financial worth.
4. STL
Stella Mwangi, better known as STL, is one of the few Kenyan musicians to have gone international and become hugely successful. Apart from owning her own fashion line, the Norway-based musician has signed several deals with different companies across the globe. Last year she signed a commercial deal with international brand Tommy Hilfiger. Her song “Get Up” and Go was picked as the theme song for the international fashion Brand Tommy Hilfiger’s fashion shows for an entire year. Tommy Hilfiger had previously used the same soundtrack for a different event in during the London Fashion Week.
Tommy Hilfiger also featured another of STL’s songs “Work” in its Summer Spring Collection, while Hollywood movie A Bad Moms Christmas that was released in December 2017 used STL’s song “set It Off” as its official soundtrack. Hollywood movie Rough Nightthat was released on June 16, 2017, used STLs song “Big Girl”. Other TV shows that have used STLs songs include Being Mary Jane and Rosewood. These deals have made STL one of the most successful East African artistes collaborating with Hollywood music licensing.
5. Ringtone
A while ago gospel artiste Ringtone said that his wealth is twice that of Diamond Platnumz. I bet he said that because he’s just salivating at prospect of landing Zari Hassan after breaking up with the Bongo star. Ringtone has invested in hospitality industry where he rakes in millions every month. Nonetheless, I still don’t believe he’s richer than Diamond Platnumz.
6. Bahati
Kevin Mbuvi, better known as Bahati, became an instant sensation back in 2012. Having risen from a humble background, including being admitted to an orphanage, Bahati understands what it seems to have nothing. He now has millions in in bank account, as he performs in major corporate events where they pay handsomely.
Mid last year Bahati landed an endorsement deal with BIDCO, East and Central Africa’s largest manufacturer and marketer of consumer products. Bahati won Grove Awards Artists of the Year 2014, and affording him to perform in one of your events doesn’t come cheap.
7. Willy Paul
Willy Paul is another gospel artiste who has made it big in the entertainment industry. The 2013 Grove Awards winner has released several hits since his debut, and has performed both locally and internationally. The artiste has also signed endorsement deals just like his fierce rival Bahati. A few years ago Willy Paul landed an endorsement deal with Safari Pure Water as their official brand ambassador. He has also collaborated with big name musicians, including Gloria Muliro, Size 8 and Alaine.
8. Redsan
Apart from STL, Redsan is another Kenyan artiste who has gone international and succeeded. After signing with Sony Global, Redsan has done many international performances and tours befitting his status as one of the best dance-hall artistes in Kenya.
When asked why he rarely performs in Kenya, Redsan said that Kenyan promoters are not able to meet his management’s high bargaining terms. However, he still performs outside the country and makes a fortune.
9. Nonini
Herbert Nakitare, better known as Nonini, is one of the richest musicians in Kenya. Having rose to fame with his song Wee Kamu, Nonini started a music genre alongside Jua Cali called Genge. He was once a radio host, and currently runs ProHabo Entertainment. The godfather of Genge even introduced the infamous P-Unit, which has produced multiple hits over the years. Nonini owns several businesses and is to a large extent a philanthropist.
10. Size 8
Linet Masiro Munyali started off as a secular artist before switching her allegiance to gospel music. No one ever thought that the bubbly Size 8 would rise up the ladder to become one of the top earners in the music industry, leave alone making the elite list of richest musicians in Kenya.
Size 8 is one of the few gospel artistes to have landed multiple multi-million endorsement deals, and is currently a TV host. Her daughter Ladasha Belle even landed a mega deal worth millions as a diapers ambassador. The other day she said she gives her husband DJ MO all her money plus 4 other things.
11. Khaligraph Jones
The artiste is one of the few Kenyan musicians making quite a paycheck at the moment. He claims to be a businessman and his known for his expensive lifestyle that gives his fans a rough idea about how loaded he is. He owns a Range Rover Sport and a recording studio. He recently landed a one-year endorsement deal with winemaker Luc Belaire. I bet that comes with a heavy paycheck.
