Today, the man born in
Kandara, Muranga in the 70s as, Isaac Kibugi Nduati is popularly
known as Kakaman Nduati the singing cop or ‘msikari mwimbi’ in
broken Swahili. With 11 albums released to date, the latest being
clearing and forwarding ‘wendo wa teargas’ Kakaman Nduati is at ease juggling his twin
loves of law enforcement and music.
Growing Up
Growing up as young boy,
Nduati counts himself fortunate, he identified his love of creative
arts as early as when in Class 3 in Mahutia Primary School. He was
not just an active participant in church and school, music and drama
festivals but he led most of them. So much so that his relatives told
him he took after Kibugi a grandfather he was named after. In his hey
days, the elder Kibugi charmed ladies when singing ‘Kibata’ a
Kikuyu traditional dance.
At a young age Nduati,
loved to listen to Joseph Kamaru’s music especially ‘Muhiki wa
Mikosi’ and DK Kamau. By the time he was in Class 7 in 1987, his
talent blossomed and at school music festivals he got to provincial
level through a solo folk song he performed. His headmaster then Mr
Ngomi encouraged him in his artistic pursuits. By class 8 he topped
all festivals church and school he participated in some pieces he
also composed. After primary school he got admitted to Kiruri High
School and all fired up to perform arts in high school.
High School Artistic
Exploits
In Form 1 he dived
straight to arts and even began coaching Form 4’s in preparation
for the festivals and leading some of the compositions. Nduati’s
immediate creative influence was visible as Kiruri High for the first
time got to district level. In Form 2 working in tandem with their patron
they prepared 7 artistic pieces of which 5, took 1st
place the rest 2nd
place at divisional levels and they proceeded to district levels.
For all their artistic
exploits, the school principal didn’t share in their celebration.
Instead the group got wind on the eve of district festivals that they
had been banned from performing at district level. The group led by
Nduati took their grievances to an educational officer in Kangema who
organized a bus from Kangema High to pick them at 5am at the parade
ground on material day. They proceeded to Kigumo Bendera for the
district festivals without the blessing of their principal and their
patron not informed. Of the 7 pieces they performed 2 were number 1
and another number 2, and had qualified for the provincial level.
The education officer who
had assisted them facilitated the group with expenses to perform at
provincial levels where they got to second place. That weekend they
came back to school with 2nd
place trophies and certificates from zonal level and on Monday during
parade presented them to their patron. Their prinicipal was livid and
before he could suspend the arts group led by Nduati a school strike
happened. As a result most of the arts group led by Nduati was
expelled for good by the school board as they were perceived as
strike instigators.
Light Bulb Moment
Looking back, Nduati says
the expulsion was a blessing in disguise and it shaped the person he
is today a soldier musician. His father was bitter with him over the fees he
had paid for him. However Nduati promised that he would get another
school and be admitted. He got offered a place at Gaichanjiru High
School but settled on Gituro High School due to its emphasis on
performing arts. An arts teacher Mr Omurunga who had adjudicated
Nduati in the past, pleaded with the principal to admit him on
learning he was expelled at Kiruri over his love of performing arts.
Since Nduati hadn’t
studied third term of Form 2 he was examined to see if fit to be in
Form 3 in 1992. He did well and was admitted in Form 3. The day he
officially reported the drama group patron Mr Omurunga gave him a
script. He played the lead character ‘Magoto wa Gituru’ which
became the talk during festivals. From zonal to provincial level
Nduati won best actor but for the play Damu that didn’t proceed to
nationals. However, in the second term during music festivals Nduati
won best soloist for a vernacular recital (marebeta). “It wowed
people,’’ he recalls.
Form 4 however served as
the ultimate climax of Nduati’s artistic exploits in high school.
He was made the entertainment captain and composed a ‘marebeta’
title ‘Unduire Witu’ that won up to national levels. That opened
a door for Nduati to perform to Kenya’s former President Moi at
State House Nairobi. The president though not understanding Kikuyu
was left in stitches and the education minister then JJ Kamotho was
his translator. “By God’s grace I was able to balance my studies
and arts and didn’t fail the final exams,’’ Nduati told Kikuyu
Musicians.
After High School
After high school, he was
called back by Gituru High principal to coach the arts group. He
co-wrote a play with Mr Omurunga titled ‘Nguvu za Giza.’ One of
the best actors to emerge from the play was Ann Ngugi of K24. In 1996
he tried out for the police and was selected and joined Police
College at Kiganjo. Afterwards he was posted in Nairobi with rank of
constable and used to do patrols around Nairobi. Then his musical
gift was still bugging him. When Nduati got the opportunity at events
or clubs he sang songs of musicians like John Ndemethiu or Mugithi
which towards late 90s was beginning to be popular. “People would
appreciate,” Nduati recalls.
Musical Debut
Tired of singing other
peoples songs, he financed and released his first album Cecilia in
2006 which was a hit. In it was the song ‘Ngai teithia Thigari’
(God help the cops). In 2007 he sang a political album ‘Kibaki
Tena’ for Kibaki praising him for his development record. Album 3
was ‘Muhunjia Opposite’ a satirical aimed at false preachers
which also had a song ‘Susanna Kurungara.’ Album 4 was ‘Kiwendo
Kia Nguvu’ in 2008 with a peace song ‘tutikanacokere mbara’
after the post election violence skirmishes.
Road Accident
In 2009 Nduati was
involved in an accident within Nairobi when a tuk tuk he was
travelling on was hit by a matatu and fractured a left leg. While in crutches he did a gospel album ‘Massage ya
Kiroho’ as a thanks to GOD for sparing his life. He admits it
didn’t do well and I felt maybe I wasn’t called to be in gospel
music. Album 6 was a hit propelled by title song like ‘Afande inthe Box’ based on a true story Nduati investigated as a police
officer. It’s based on a man conned by a lady who was an inmate. It
also had ‘Konje Gakwa’ another hilarious yet popular song and
‘Nyagu Gakwa’ a high energy drum dominated dance track.
Album 7 was 'Nimugucua' which also did well as per Nduati. Album
8 Mama Dondosa churned out perhaps Nduati most popular Kikuyu Songs
like Kindiria Urimu and Ngero Ya Mbia. The two songs are hilarious
and comical as Nduati sings them as imagined stories. Album 9 titled
Nani Yuko Salama followed. It’s a Swahili album that touches on
dangerous issues police go through in line of duty. Album 10 titled
‘Nyumba Ya Uthamaki’ was a political album released early 2013,
praising Uhuru Kenyatta on his election as Kenya’s president. The
album sold around 5000 copies on release in TNA strongholds of
Central Kenya.
Latest Album
His latest album 11
features Clearing and Forwarding/‘Wendo wa Teargas’ song and was released July 1st
2013 about a lady Doctor who fell in love with an police officer
quelling riots during a doctors strike. The officer provided the lady
with water to wipe her eyes off teargas. The album also has a song on
national cohesion titled ‘Twendanira’ and another ‘Maitu wa
Ruriri on Mama Ngina Kenyatta.
Compositions
Nduati admits in his
compositions he incorporates various genres like Chakacha, Pop and
lingala. “I sit down with my instrumentalists and instruct them how
to play,” he said. Composing for him comes naturally almost like a
spiritual experience that hits him even when he is working as a
police officer. “It’s something abrupt,” says Nduati. ‘Mama
Dondosa’ and ‘Afande in the Box’ have sold 15,000 coped and
Nyumba ya Uthamaki 10,000 as per Nduati.
Music and Police Duty
As a singing police
officer Nduati is appreciative of his seniors who have never hindered
him from engaging his talent. Now in Matuu Nduati appreciates his
boss Superintendent Joel Sang who is supportive of his musical
endeavors. For him though music earns him more he is passionate and
proud police officer which he will be until he retires. “That title
the singing cop makes me proud,” he said especially when in events
or clubs where fellow cops, warders or army attend. “They cheer
knowing that is one, of their own,” said an overwhelmed Nduati.
When in police duties he
admits with a laughter at times finding it hard to arrest people.
“Its my job but I thank GOD I’ve never been in dangerous
situations even when I was in patrol Nairobi,” he adds. As he is
based in operations room in Yatta Police division that gives him
flexibility to compose songs as his police work is from 8am to 5pm
job. Most of his shows are on evenings from 8pm on Fridays and
Saturdays on those weekends he is booked to perform. “Having
seniors who support is vital, I’ve never been harassed for singing,”
said Nduati. None of Nduati’s two sons have an interest in music.
His first born is studying Bachelor of Science in statistics at
Kenyatta University the younger in Primary school.
Nduati admits he is open
to performing outside Kenya if given a chance. Radio Jambo owned by
Njoki wa Ndegwa, in Boston recently interviewed him asking when he
will perform. “They play my songs there,” said Nduati. His most
memorable performance was in 2008 before he had an accident. Then he
was involved a promotion that cemented his status as a central Kenya
performer. Fans can interact with him at
www.facebook.com/officialkakamannduati
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