President Ruto’s son-in-law behind Davido’s Sh84.6m Kenyan concert
By Sinda MatikoNigerian Afro-Beat sensation Davido is set to make a grand return to the Kenyan stage after six years, headlining the inaugural Raha Fest scheduled for March 30 and 31 at Uhuru Gardens.
Behind the scenes, the man orchestrating this multimillion-dollar spectacle is none other than Alexander Ezenagu, President William Ruto’s son-in-law.
Davido’s last performance in Kenya was at the 30 Billion concert in 2018, where he commanded a fee of Sh10 million for international shows, a testament to his soaring popularity. This was back on November 25, 2018, at Uhuru Gardens.
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In his first-ever performance in Kenya back in 2015, just four years after rising to prominence, Davido raked in a hefty sum of Sh5.5 million for his electrifying show at the Carnivore Grounds.
Tickets were priced at Sh8,000 for VIP, Sh4,000 for Golden Circle, and Sh2,500 for regular admission.
However, since 2018, Davido’s fee has skyrocketed as his music has garnered widespread acclaim, even reaching the coveted Billboard charts in Europe. With his growing fame, his asking price for performances has significantly increased, making it challenging for promoters to secure his return to Kenya.
In May 2022, 2ientertainment, a promotional company, attempted to bring Davido back for another show.
However, their efforts were in vain as they failed to meet his exorbitant asking price, reported to be $300,000 (equivalent to Sh35 million at the time’s exchange rate).
His return to the Kenyan stage has been elusive due to his escalating rate card, reaching a staggering $600,000 (Sh86.4 million) per show as of September 2023.
“I mean now I charge $600,000 for a show. Now it is fewer shows actually because fewer people can pay. I do three, four shows in a month which is $2 million to $3 million,” Davido disclosed in a YouTube video uploaded by American jewellery company Icebox in 2023.
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Given these substantial amounts, the question then is: Who is the driving force behind the upcoming Raha Fest event set to headline in Nairobi next month?
Nairobi News has recently uncovered that the primary financier behind Raha Fest is none other than Alexander Ezenagu, the son-in-law of President Ruto.
Mr Ezenagu tied the knot with June Ruto on May 27, 2021, at the former deputy president’s residence in Karen.
“He is the financial backbone of Raha Fest, alongside a group of affluent associates, the majority of whom are Nigerians. They are personally funding the concert, with minimal external sponsorship. Notably, the sponsors affiliated with the event are closely linked to Ezenagu or his network,” disclosed a source to Nairobi News.
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The concert, devoid of major sponsors, is primarily bankrolled by Ezenagu and his network of affluent Nigerians.
Among the few sponsors onboard are Martell, for which Davido serves as an ambassador, Radio Africa Group, with ties to Ezenagu’s circle, and Zuri Health, associated with Ike Anoke, also known as Taurus Music CEO, within the entertainment circles.
Additionally, Vanguard, an upscale restaurant in Westlands, is listed as a sponsor, owned by none other than President Ruto’s son-in-law.