DK Kwenye Beat and I were framed: Hope Kid

 Hope Kid.

In late January, gospel artistes Hope Kid and DK Kwenye Beat were accused of being sexual predators, with their colleagues taking sides and some brands pulling the plug on the two Much more was happening under the radar and as Hope Kid reveals, a NDA was signed in the final stage of the row

‘DK Kwenye Heat’ and ‘Herpes Kid’ were trending memes, with KOT making fun of the episode that had started with Xtian Ndela’s big exposé. A young lady, confirmed by Pulse to be a 23-year old vixen, had come out anonymously to accuse the two, especially DK Kwenye Beat, of having raped and infected her with an STI. She went on TV and she kept divulging more, including revelations that the ordeal left her contemplating suicide.

“I can tell it to you with a straight face that we were framed,” Hope Kid, seated across me in a café along Kindaruma Road, tells me.

He takes out his jungle green coat, probably feeling the heat of what he was about to reveal.

“The lady had been my friend, and we chatted from time to time. She had reached out wanting to be a model on my songs, but the photos she posted on Instagram were too revealing for my brand. I just told her I would hook her up with any secular artistes if something came up.”

According to Hope Kid, Xtian ran away with the story for ratings, and Kenyans chose to believe the accusations.

“Xtian has had beef with DK for the longest time, and this was his way of getting back,” says the Delilah singer and award-winning dancehall artiste.

“In all these, I was guilty of one thing only- introducing DK to the lady,” he says in retrospect.

“I did it as it was the most natural thing to do to a person I literally hang out with every day, kumbe it will lead to so much more.”

A week after the allegation broke, the two artistes headed to a private hospital in Nairobi to get tested, “and none of us had herpes. Even the office of the DPP said the whole thing was a waste of time,” Hope Kid reveals. 

The same time DPP was looking into it, Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) came out breathing fire, especially towards DK Kwenye Beat. Also, some female celebrities were offering the lady advice on how to go about things, in good-hearted solidarity with a fellow woman.

“When more details of what happened came out, and they realised there was no mileage to be made, FIDA backed off. Even Xtian and Kate Kamau (actress) who had been vocal about the whole thing, went under. They did not even go to Nakuru to give the lady any support,” Hope Kid says with a cynical smile.

“This whole thing was very comical.”

The currency of any artiste is shows and endorsements; did the scandal affect his earning?

“Bro, let me tell you, ni God tu!” he says, as he takes a sip of his tea, the evening rain beating down hard outside.

 DK Kwenye Beat.

“In estimation, I have lost about Sh5 million in shows and deals, but it is what it is. I was dropped by some fast food company when we were in the final stages of shooting a video. I have so many bills to pay, school fees and rent for my immediate family, but I guess people don’t think about that when they go ahead to create scandals for artistes…” he says, before explaining that his songs were banned from some leading stations.

In March, after consultation with his Bishop Welly Odendo, the two artistes and the bishop left for Nakuru.

“We had a three-hour tense meeting with the lady and her friend. What came out were revelations that she did not have herpes and she apologised. The bishop explained that no one would gain anything by suing the other, and that more accusations and counter-accusations would just damage us. That is where we decided on a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) to put an end to all of this.”

The NDA stipulated that the identity of the lady, who is a daughter of a prominent personality in Nakuru would remain undisclosed and that the concerned parties would not reveal any more details about what transpired. While chatting over tea, Hope Kid showed me texts where ‘Jane Doe’ was still asking for forgiveness.

According to Hope Kid, his sanity came through charity – he is an ambassador for Autism Lights, an organisation supporting and creating awareness about the condition.

“They did not drop me even as the accusations kept coming left and right and I am deeply glad for that. It would have been a shame to lose such an important cause,” he said, explaining that he had travelled with the organisation to Turkana the same time that Akothee was there.

“We took some food and other essentials over there.”

He is also finishing an album set to drop in August.

What is the biggest lesson he learnt?

“Bro, the gospel world is full of hypocrites!” he shouts, sending stares from other customers our way. “I was chased from a church, a place that should have offered me support and comfort. Gospel artistes, except Timeless Noel, stopped picking my calls. In fact, I got more support from secular artistes.”

He also stated that though unrelated, artistes should be very careful about whom they let in.

“People are out for fame and money through extortion.”

Pulse reached out to Kate Actress, who clarified that her comments were based on the leaked audio of DK Kwenye mocking the alleged victim even after he had apologised for his behaviour.

“My comments were based on the audio and nothing else,” she explained, informing Pulse that she does not know the lady and therefore never reached out. “I don’t know any details about the case.”

When we tried to each out to FIDA, our calls were not picked the whole of Tuesday.