Charles Njagua Kanyi, known by his onstage moniker Jaguar, is having the time of his life. President Uhuru Kenyatta and veteran opposition leader Raila Odinga are part of his circle of high-profile friends. He has them on speed dial. His bewildering array of songs has become a staple of Kenyan music. When he's not singing about betrayal and back-stabbing, the musician, known for his laid-back swagger, is crooning about love and never giving up the hope to succeed. Randomly rattle off the lyrics of any of his compelling bangers and watch those around you nod with familiarity, be it 'Nikuskize' or 'Kipepeo' or 'Kigeugeu' or 'Huu mwaka'. The prolific artist seems to be on an unstoppable roll, doling out a string of emotionally-engaging hooks that have endeared him to the millenials and the oldies alike. School-going kids love his craft.
There's always been the widely-held contention, which he has failed to address once and for all, that he's the highest paid artist in Kenya. It's a contention that appears to be credible given his flashy lifestyle; the fleet of state-of-the-art machines, the silver and gold chains that adorn his neck, Nike footwear, strategically-shredded jeans and what not! His generosity with cash is legendary. He moves around with his pockets stuffed up with a thousand-bob notes. He is wealthy to a fault. Then there's his upset victory in the 2017 elections that demonstrated for all to see the reach of his influence and appeal. Footage of the artist in tears over what he described as being rigged out of the Jubilee nomination certificate prior to the elections went viral. His supporters went berserk, taking to the streets and vowing not to relent until he was given the nomination certificate by the ruling party. They camped outside the Jubilee headquarters until the party's machinery buckled. The protests paid off and he was eventually given the certificate, setting the stage for the disgraceful exit of his experienced opponent Maina Kamanda from the political arena.
By Rennox Okeyo
4th March 2019
It was never smooth-sailing getting to this position of privilege, wealth and power, Jaguar has emphasised in virtually all the interviews he has done with the mainstream media. At just 11, he lost his mother, upending his world. Fare from Eastleigh to Kikuyu to attend primary school was hard to come by forcing him to make friends with the touts who, seeing his efforts, ferried him back and forth, free of charge. " When people see your efforts they are willing to help. That's why the youths helped me out. They saw I really wanted to go school, " he told a mainstream television station. He would later join Senior Chief Koinange to complete his secondary education thanks to the contributions of well-wishers. It's at senior chief that his singing talent was discovered. "You have a talent in singing. Work on it, " Mr Mbugua, a teacher told him with conviction after performing in front of other students. "Shoes were a luxury then. I used to walk in a pair of slippers, " he says. All this while, after the demise of his mum, he stayed at relatives' and friends' places and would sleep on the seats because the beds were not enough.
In a deeply emotional post on Instagram, Jaguar says his sister was married at 17 years and the two stayed at Mukuru kwa Reuben, a slum in Nairobi, in a one-roomed corrugated iron shack where he slept on the floor. While there, he made his sister a solemn promise: One day he would get her out of there and take her to a better place. It was a promise he made with the conviction of a self-fulfilling prophecy. He worked as a tout then at Buruburu during which time he came to know Sonko who haboured political aspirations. When Sonko went for the Makadara seat, Jaguar says he laughed it off as a joke but then things happened. Sonko pulled off an upset victory against ODM's Reuben Ndolo.
Jaguar's sophomore single 'Furaha' came together after much hustle; having to trek a great distance to get someone with a laptop to do the editing. He parted with a thousand bob and had to go back to look for another a thousand bob. The single was not a smash. It didn't do well and Jaguar contemplated abandoning his music career. He's glad he didn't. He held out.
When "Nikuskize', a love song in which he featured 'Tina' a former 'Mother in Law' actor, his romantic interest in the song, the nation took notice. And then there was 'Nimetoka Mbali' in which he featured Tanzanian rapper AY which took the music industry by storm. His sound had evolved into something engaging. Then later came 'Kigeugeu'. 'Kigeugeu' was an earthquake in musical terms which showcased Jaguar's inimitable talent. He had arrived. Politicians fell in love with the song which talked about betrayal. Raila Odinga is on record saying it's one of his favuorites. It's a song which appears to have particular resonance for the veteran politician who has known betrayal. Every other song has been a hit. His collaboration 'One Centimetre' with Iyanya, Nigerian sensation, enjoyed massive airplay.
Jaguar says working closely with industry players and the willingness to learn has helped his career a great deal. He's always seeking advice before releasing songs.
How has he been able to remain financially stable all this while? "Investing wisely and saving as much as he can. You don't eat everything, " he said in an interview. His path has not been without controversy. There is the rumour that he trafficked in drug
s. "That's a narrative being peddled by haters, " he says. He has however confessed to taking drugs out of peer pressure and bad advice. He has long been embroiled in a beef with rapper Prezzo which came to an end after his election. The two collaborated on a song to signal the end of their feud. On his fistfight with Babu Owino, he is deeply remorseful, saying it did not set a good example to the youth. The two have since reconciled. His tenure at NACADA boss was rocky; he nearly resigned over corruption. "I saw no need of earning a salary and getting fat without getting something done. My loyalty was to the people," he said. It's only after an assurance that his graft claims would be looked into that he stayed on.
Using is platform, the talented crooner is giving back to the community big time. With a myriad projects, he has helped youths reform and reintegrate back to the society. The fact that he once lacked and was helped by others is what informs his generosity. Waking up in the weekend hours of the morning has become part of his routine. "I wake up at four every day. I would rather sleep early than sleep late, " he says.
Love him or hate him, Jaguar stands as an inspiration to many youths who see him as a testament to what is possible to a determined soul. He seems to be juggling his many roles pretty well with the attention to detail and precision of a military operation: Family, music, politics, business, and what not. If his string of successes are anything to go by, the best is yet to come for Jaguar. To him, nothing is beyond the realm of the possible provided you go the extra mile.
