Rapper Kahumburu ‘Kahush’ Mutahi, the youngest son of Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe, recently opened up about his unexpected rise to fame in 2019. Despite achieving instant success with his breakout song “Mi Siwezi,” Kahush admits that he wasn’t prepared for the whirlwind of attention and challenges that fame would bring.
Kahush, who graduated from Nottingham University in the United Kingdom with a degree in International Relations, first entered the music scene with little expectation of success. He recalls that when he dropped “Mi Siwezi” in late 2019, it was simply an effort to have fun and share his passion for rap with friends.
“I never anticipated the impact ‘Mi Siwezi’ would have,” Kahush shares. “I was just rapping for the fun of it, no major aspirations. When the song blew up, it completely shifted how I viewed music. Suddenly, I realized there was an entire industry out there with money to be made. Before that, I was just putting out music for enjoyment, and some of my earlier tracks didn’t even get a single play.”
However, the success of “Mi Siwezi” brought far more than just musical opportunities. The fame that followed was overwhelming, especially when the public discovered that Kahush was the son of CS Mutahi Kagwe, who was serving as the Health Minister at the time. This added a layer of pressure, with the spotlight now shining not just on his music but on his family background as well.
“The fame came with both positive and negative sides,” Kahush reflects. “When I blew up, I was still young, and I wasn’t ready for the intensity of it all. There were definitely good things, but I focused on the bad. People were quick to judge and criticize, and I took that personally. There was a lot of negativity, and it really affected me.”
The constant scrutiny and backlash weighed heavily on Kahush, leading him to take a break from the music industry. “It took a toll on me,” he admits. “There was so much hate from people, and it got to the point where I needed to step away and reset. That’s when I disappeared from the scene to focus on adjusting to my new reality.”
Kahush’s break allowed him to reflect on the pressures of fame and rediscover his love for music. Now, with a clearer mindset, he is fully committed to his career and ready to tackle the music industry head-on.
Looking back, Kahush acknowledges that fame is unpredictable, and no one can truly prepare for its complexities. Despite the challenges, he remains focused on his passion for music and is determined to continue building his career.
