Sakaja Names Calif Records Boss, 32 Others To Govt Post [LIST]

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja handed celebrated music producer Clement Rapudo Sijenyi, alias Clemo, a nomination as County Chief Officer on Tuesday, December 13, among 33 other nominees.

According to a notice published on Wednesday, December 14 in the local dailies, Sakaja nominated Clemo to the City Culture, Arts and Tourism docket as he continues to build his administration before 2022 comes to a close.

Clemo is a music producer and co-founder of Calif Records based in Life Ministry House near Hurlingham Business Center along Jabavu Road in Nairobi, Kenya. With a career spanning decades in the entertainment industry, the 42-year-old conceptualised the record label in 1998 with his partners, whose relationship did not work out, the catalyst for its birth in 2000.

Clemo studied food science in university, but his passion was music. While still a First Year, he started producing music in his parent’s living room in Nairobi's California Estate, with his love for electronics helped him to build the record company’s rudimentary studio equipment.

“He was making the tracks in the living room, all the equipment fit on his parent’s dining table,” Calif’s CEO, Thomas Mahondo narrated in a past interview with The Standard. “And because the vocals needed to be crystal clear, he went to other studios to do the recording.”

Clemo wanted to know how things work, and the science behind the making of music. His modus operandi was not making ready beats; he first wanted to hear how the musician sounded before he did his thing.

Though Clemo loved soul music, he was open-minded, and let other genres and artiste’s preferences be infused into the genge sound. For instance, Flexx’s music was dancehall-ish but was still “genge” to the rhythm and beat.

Clemo did not have to look further than the brick walls of his ‘hood for a musician to test the waters. Jua Cali, his homeboy, was the first musician that the budding producer experimented with, on what later became known as, Beat ya Clemo. 

He was joined by another unknown quantity from the same ‘hood, Nonini who put shock-and-awe in his repertoire, with such songs as, Wee Kamu. The song’s title, meaning, “You Come”, had a double entendre and was not a mere booty call, thus Nonini was the first musician to be signed to the then-fledgling Calif Records. 

Thereafter, came, in no particular order, Pilipili, Flexx, Lady S, Jimwat, Mejja and many more, turning the record label into a powerhouse that completely changed the atmosphere of Kenyan music.

Clemo won an award for "Producer of the Year" at the 2007 Chaguo La Teeniez awards (CHAT Awards). He won the 2005 Best Producer category at the Kisima Music Award and was nominated for the 2006 competition.

He is the founder of Ngomma VAS, a Multi-Channel Network that distributes local music to various media houses in Kenya and abroad.

He is set to appear before Culture and Community Services Committee on Thursday, December 22, for vetting. Other nominees include:

1. Priscilla Mahinda – Office of the Governor
2. Asha Abdi – Finance
3. Winnie Gathangu – Economic Planning
4. Wilson Njoroge Gakuya – Revenue Administration
5. John Murungi Lintari – ICT Infrastructure
6. Victor Otieno Ogolla – Digital Economy and Start-Ups
7. Tirus Wainaina Njoroge – Smart Nairobi
8. Ahmed Mohammed Abdai – ECDE and Vocational Training
9. Oscar Mufunga Igaida – Youth, talent and Sports
10. George Mutiso Musembi – Social Services
11. Boniface Karimi Nvamu – Mobility Works
12. Geoffrey Kimutai Tirop – Works
13. Clement Rapudo Sijenyi - City Culture, Arts and Tourism
14. Lucky Ogutu Okudo – Energy and Lightning
15. Cecilia Wangari Koigu – Lands
16. Patrick Analo Akivaga – Urban Development and Planning
17. Marion Nyawira Rono – Housing and Urban Planning
18. Janet Omollo Opiata – Public Service
19. Justus Kathenge – Boroughs and Sun-County Coordination
20. Tony Michael Kimani – Security and Compliance
21. Bramwel Wesangula Simiyu – Disaster Management and Coordination
22. Zipporah Njeri Mwangi – Business and Opportunities
23. Elizabeth Njeri Njau – Markets and Trade
24. Godfrey Akumali Atiel – Cooperatives
25. Hibrahim Otieno Nyakach – Environment
26. Collins Omondi Kamol – Food, Agriculture, Natural Resources
27. Oscar Omoke Ocholla – Water and Sewerage
28. Geoffrey Omoke Mosiara – Health Facilities
29. Tom Michira Nyakaba – Public Health
30. Irene Njeri Muchoki – Medical Services
31. Bernard Buluma Kulokhoma – Wellness, Nutrition, and School Feeding
32. Lydiah Wambui Maitha – Public Participation, Citizen Engagement and Customer Service
33. Maryan Dubow Dahir – Gender and Inclusivity