By Allan Olingo
If you want to move fast, move alone but if you want to move far, move as a group.
These words are the pillars James Imwari Mutai also known, as ‘Kamano’, and David Mwendwa Muthengi use in their pursuit of a music career.
Kamano belts out a tune while playing with the guitar, occasionally throwing his dreadlocks back and forth. All this while, Mwendwa silently fiddles with the piano, a smile playing on his face.
You would not imagine he is partially challenged. The two, graduates of Kenyatta University, are now a favourite country music band.
At the university is where Kamano’s music journey began.
“During the Kenyatta University Cultural week in 2004, my room mate pushed me to the podium after the MC requested anyone in the crowd to come up and perform. When I got there, I did a rendition of the song Aisha and the crowd loved it,” says Kamano.
Senorita
According to Kamano, the then Deputy Chancellor George Eshiwani asked him to play a rendition of old country music and when he sang Senorita by Don Williams, Eshiwani was impressed.
“I went ahead to be the second best solo performer during the cultural week at the grand finale at Kenyatta International Conference Centre. I was awarded the guitar that has become my musical companion,” explains Kamano.
“When I was given the box guitar, I learnt how to play it because at the time of receiving it, I had no idea how use it. I used to carry it everywhere I went. That’s how I bumped into my partner David.”
Unique band
