July 1, 1990: Police in Nairobi and Nakuru raids shops suspected to be selling subversive music and arrested people selling controversial cassettes or listening to them.The police also impounded hundreds of cassettes, cassette recorders, dubbing machines, guitars and saxophones. The cassettes impounded included those featuring songs like, Mahoya ma Bururi (Prayers for the country) Who Killed Dr Ouko, Mathina ma Matiba (Matiba’s tribulations), Nituhoye Ngai (Let us pray), Patriotic Contributions and Thina Una Wakorire Athini a Gicagi kia Muoroto. (Problems that befell the poor people of Muoroto). On Saturday, the Attorney-General, Mr. Mathew Muli, and the Kanu Secretary-General, Mr. Joseph Kamotho, warned matatu operators that they risked losing road licences if they continued playing subversive music. Mr Muli told the public that it was illegal to buy or be in possession of the subversive music cassettes. In the Photo is Music maestro Joseph Kamaru (standing) addresses fellow musicians at a meeting on June 1990. From left are C. D. M. Kiratu, Daniel Kamau (DK) Francis Rugwiti and James Mihingo.
Photo|Nation Syndication