Tribute to the Late Jackton Malenya

We at Ketebul Music, wish to pay tribute to the legendary Jackton Malenya who died on the 13th of March, 2016. Mr Malenya met his tragic death when he was assaulted by unknown people on his way home late that evening. He is well known for the hit song “Mtoto si Nguo” which he sang with George Mukabi. The song was recorded in the 1960s.

Malenya was buried on the 29th of March in Buyangu, Bunyore in Vihiga County.

For those of you who don’t know about this Legend, here is a little more you need to know…

Jacktone Malenya was born in Kisa West in Kakamega, Western Kenya. Malenya’s father was a reverend in the Church of God, Kima Mission. He encouraged Malenya to join the church choir, where he learnt to play the guitar. However, he discouraged his son from joining a band. Soon after, Malenya teamed up with a childhood friend who hailed from the same neighborhood, George Mukabi, and they secretly started experimenting with secular music.

In 1957 they decided to move to Nairobi in search of new opportunities. Within that same year they found work with the East African Railways, Malenya working in the supplies department while Mukabi worked as an office messenger at the Railways Training School. Since they were both allocated houses at the Railways staff quarters in Makongeni estate it became convenient for them to meet and practice at the Makongeni Social Hall.

Malenya, who had better education than Mukabi, composed and wrote most of their initial compositions, with Mukabi playing the lone guitar.

Their first record, ‘Kweli Ndugu Sikilizeni’, with ‘Sengula’ on the flip side, was cut at African Gramophone Stores (AGS) studios in River Road in 1957. Their main competitors were the Jambo Boys, made up of Fundi Konde, Daudi Kabaka, Edouard Masengo and Fadhili William. Subsequent recordings were made at AP Chandarana, CMS, Andrew Crawford and a few other studios around town.

The duo achieved a lot of success with their music until tragedy struck in 1963, when Mukabi succumbed to wounds he received during a violent confrontation with his in-laws in Kakamega. After Mukabi’s death Malenya teamed up with his cousin Peter Akwabi, who was then a student at Butere Boys School, and continued recording. But just like Mukabi, Malenya’s life ended tragically when he was attacked by unknown people on his way home late that evening.