A new song by popular Kikuyu musician Kimani Wa Turacco has revived the 2022 succession debate, attracting the attention of Deputy President William Ruto.
The song, 'Hatuna Deni Ya Mtu, Kitaeleweka' has been doing rounds on social media sparking uproar from supporters of Ruto, as it claims that voters in the Mount Kenya region will not back him in his 2022 presidential bid since they owe him nothing.
In the viral track, the artist says residents in the vote-rich Central region should not feel indebted to Ruto by the fact that he has backed President Uhuru Kenyatta for two elections.
"We went hunting together and when we slaughtered the goat, we shared equally. We owe nobody any debt and if any, maybe that of M-Shwari," he states in the viral song.
On Sunday Ruto hit back at the vernacular song noting that nobody owed any community or person, including himself, anything.
But just who is Kimani, the artist who has caused the heated debate forcing the country's second in command to speak out?
Here are some facts about him:
The popular musician hails from Gatundu in Kiambu County and he is in his early 40s.
Before he ventured into the music industry he used to work as a mechanic in a garage along Thika Road.
He came into the limelight in 2010 when he released the hit song 'Muruthi Gukoma Ti Gukua' ( A sleeping lion is not a dead one) in which he castigated ODM leader Raila Odinga over his attacks on retired President Mwai Kibaki's administration.
Kimani, alongside popular comedian Mzee Kihenjo jointly own Turacco Village Bar and Restaurant which is located at Kenyatta Road near Juja Town.
He recently established Big Kim Studios which has produced songs for popular musicians such as Muigai Njoroge, John De'Mathew among others.