President Ruto’s Son-In-Law Behind Davido’s Sh84.6m Kenyan Concert
Nigerian Afro-Beat star Davido is poised to make a triumphant comeback to the Kenyan music scene, headlining the first-ever Raha Fest on March 30 and 31 at Uhuru Gardens, marking his return after a six-year hiatus.
Working behind the scenes to manage this multimillion-dollar event is Alexander Ezenagu, who happens to be President William Ruto’s son-in-law.
Davido’s most recent appearance in Kenya took place during the 30 Billion concert in 2018, where he earned a fee of Sh10 million for his international performances, underscoring his rapidly growing popularity. The event occurred on November 25, 2018, at Uhuru Gardens.
During his first live performance in Kenya in 2015, only four years after gaining fame, Davido earned an impressive amount of Sh5.5 million for his sensational show held at the Carnivore Grounds.
VIP tickets were sold for Sh8,000, Golden Circle tickets were priced at Sh4,000, and regular admission tickets were available for Sh2,500.
Nevertheless, starting in 2018, Davido’s charges have surged due to the widespread recognition of his music, including making it to the esteemed Billboard charts in Europe. As his popularity continues to rise, the cost of booking his performances has notably risen, posing a challenge for promoters seeking to bring him back to Kenya.
In May 2022, the promotional company 2ientertainment made an effort to book Davido for another event.
Despite their attempts, they were unsuccessful in meeting his extravagant demand of $300,000, which was said to be equivalent to Sh35 million based on the exchange rate at that time.
Coming back to the Kenyan spotlight has proven difficult for him, primarily because his fee has been steadily rising, now standing at an impressive $600,000 (equivalent to Sh86.4 million) per performance as of September 2023.
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“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 jewelry company Icebox in 2023.
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?
Gossipa2z has just revealed that the main financial supporter of Raha Fest is Alexander Ezenagu, who happens to be President William Ruto’s son-in-law.
Mr. Ezenagu and June Ruto exchanged vows on May 27, 2021, at the residence of the former deputy president 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 Gossipa2z.
The musical event, lacking significant sponsors, is predominantly funded by Ezenagu and his group of wealthy Nigerians.
Martell, of which Davido is an ambassador, is one of the limited sponsors supporting the event. Radio Africa Group, connected to Ezenagu’s network, and Zuri Health, affiliated with Ike Anoke, also recognized as Taurus Music CEO in the entertainment industry, are among the other sponsors involved.
Additionally, Vanguard, an upscale restaurant in Westlands, is listed as a sponsor, owned by none other than President Ruto’s son-in-law.
President Ruto’s Son-In-Law Behind Davido’s Sh84.6m Kenyan Concert
