NAIROBI, Kenya, Apr 1-Tanzanian musician Rajab Abdul Kahali alias Harmonize is currently being held at Kileleshwa police station after he allegedly short-changed event organizers in Nairobi.
The musician had a packed Saturday night in Nairobi, with the main event being the Afrika Moja concert at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC).
But he is accused of failing to honour the agreement in some of the city clubs where he was to make an appearance, for an agreed amount of time.
The musician was supposed to leave the country on Sunday.
He was however arrested after failing to make several scattered appearances at various Nairobi clubs he had been paid for.
“I want my money back,” one of the event organisers told Shahidi News. He was at the Kileleshwa police station.
“I had spent so much to have him in the club. Our fans were extremely disappointed after he only made a 5-minutes appearance instead of the agreed one hour and 30 minutes.”
Police said they were investigating claims of obtaining by false pretense. Several of his fans thronged the station when news of his arrest came out.
Kilimani police boss Mbogo Muturi said his officers were acting on complaints from some of the artist’s handlers.
Comedian Eric Omondi also accused Harmonize of attacking him.
Police intervened and stopped the fight after he punched Omondi on the lips. The controversial comedian said he will file a complaint.
“I told him to refund the money and instead he got angry and punched me in the presence of police and former Nairobi governor. I will file a complaint about this,” he said as he showed his slightly injured lip.
His short stay in Nairobi has been characterized by drama. On Friday, there was a dramatic encounter between Harmonize and revelers at a club in Nairobi.
Omondi said that there was a misunderstanding from fans on what Harmonize was expected to do at the club.
“Kenyans must understand that it was a club appearance, and not an event,” Omondi said.
Melamani Limited, the promoter who brought Harmonize to the country downplayed the claims of arrest, saying the artist had been taken to the police station for his ‘own security.’
The promoter was not even aware of the club appearances because he was only told that the ‘kwangwaru’ hitmaker would only perform at the KICC.
According to Jor Barsil, a director at the Captain’s Lounge in Sabaki, Harmonize was supposed to perform for one and a half hours but only did five minutes.
Former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko was among people trying to secure the musician’s freedom on Sunday afternoon.
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