Our Top 11 Kenyan Songs of January 2025

Wagwan everyone! 👋🏼

Welcome to our Top 11 Kenyan Songs for January 2025 list. At Doba KE, we provide Kenyan music lyrics, news, artist spotlights, and more. We also curate a selection of monthly music picks.

Like January 2024, January 2025 was exciting for KE music enthusiasts and fans. Albums by 4Mr Frank White and Kahu$h, along with EPs from Maandy and Ochiko, lit up the speakers. The month also marked a renaissance of US-based Kenyan artists Calvo Mistari and Naiboi.

Although the releases have been slower than last year, we are optimistic that things will pick up the pace. With upcoming projects by Njerae and Vijana Barubaru on Valentine’s Day and more, we can’t wait to see what the music industry offers us this year.

This is a list of tracks created and performed by Kenyan artists. In some isolated cases, we may also include music by non-Kenyan artists that feature Kenyan artists. The list contains songs released in January or December and older songs whose visuals were released in January.

Let’s dive into our top 11 Kenyan songs of January 2025.

11. Unfazed – King Kerby x KXFFY x Kig$

Alté rap muse King Kerby and his peers Kig$ and Kxffy collaborated on “Unfazed,“ their first song of 2025. One thing that we anticipated was the visual treatment, and once again, we were not disappointed. Philip Koth did his magic, and the color and cinematography are jaw-dropping, to say the least.

The song details the need to be confident despite life’s challenges and is warm, fuzzy, and sonically vibrant.

Apart from the production, one thing that made this song so great was the chemistry between the three artists. At the end of each verse, the next artist picks up the baton, maintaining the cadence and rhythm.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8wVJ6atirY

King Kerby, Kxffy & Kig$ – Unfazed (Official Music Video)

10. Olive[ia] – Mutoriah

Produced by: Joseph Giggz Njenga

In a love ballad about Olivia, Mutoriah croons over her lover. The 3-minute, 8-second song evokes emotions of love, romance, and good vibes. “Olive[ia]” features dominant trumpet and flute patterns that bring out the true essence of a love song.

Mutoriah – Olive[ia]

9. Tuma Madoo – Matata

At the time of this writing, Matata has been based in ice-cold Norway for over a decade. Since moving, they have made a mark and continue to put Kenya on the international map.

While they have never openly addressed the struggles of moving abroad in their music, “Tuma Madoo” presented the perfect chance.

The song discusses the struggles of living in a foreign country, including the pressure from family to pay black tax. The topic of financial challenges speaks to thousands and even millions of people who moved abroad.

Directed by Ruben Anda, the music video showcases Matata as a multi-talented group and creative force that does not mess around with their creative process.

MATATA – TUMA MADOO | Black Tax (Official Music Video)

8. Pumua – Bridget Blue

Produced by: SoFresh

Pumua, which means breath in Swahili, finds singer Bridget Blue in her usual stance. Since her song “I Choose You” featuring Bien got featured on Rolling Stone’s Best Afropop List 2024, she was pretty quiet until she was featured on “Return of the Mack.”

“Pumua” finds her encouraging the hypothetical “baby” to breathe, warning against the world, and love swallowing those who forget to breathe.

Bridget Blue – Pumua (Official Music Video)

7. Sick – Toxic Lyrikali

Produced by: Chris

On the back of his highly successful single “Chinje,” which took the last quarter of 2024 by storm, Toxic Lyrikali stepped on the gas and dropped yet another song, “Sick.”

Announcing his new year with phrases like “Mwaka Mwaki,” which means “hot or fire year,” 🔥🔥 Toxic set the pace and picked up where he left off in 2024. Sonically, the track packs a punch, accompanied by the correct dose of braggadocio. Well, it is hip-hop, and rightly so. One of the ingredients of the genre is bravado.

While we can’t predict what the year holds for him, we can only wait to see what man has up his sleeves. Read the full Toxic Lyrikali article here.

Toxic Lyrikali – Sick

6. Buruklyn Boyz – Party All Night

Produced by: Sighost

Buruklyn Boyz is widely recognized as one of the best Drill groups in Africa. Well, hold that thought. Are they still doing Drill? Perhaps? No? Maybe?

Anyway, that’s beside the point. Leading up to “Party All Night,” which represents a shift in the sound, they featured on “Kiongozi” by Wakuu Music in December 2024.

“Party All Night” is a fun song about partying, drinks, pretty girls, and phenomenal music. Experimenting with the Amapiano sound, B-Boyz has shown their fanbase and any music enthusiast who has followed their craft for a while that they are versatile, can switch styles, and still make a bop.

Buruklyn Boyz ft. Albeezy – Party All Night (Leo Usiku) | Official Music Video

5. Kahu$h – The Fuckery

Produced by: The Nomad

Off his surprise album Kiama (translates to “Judgment Day”), “The Fuckery” is a song set on a conscious sonic landscape. In the song, Kahu$h delves into topics he has always shied from in his music, like government criticism.

In the song, he goes on, further referencing past Kenyan presidents (Mwai Kibaki and Jomo Kenyatta) who dreamt and achieved their ultimate dreams by singing;

“Kibaki alikuwa na ka-dream, Kenyatta na ka-dream”

In the opening verse, he lashes out at hypocrites, targeting Kasmuel McOure, the “revolutionary” turned enemy of the people and other easily swayable leaders. Kahu$h came ready and did not disappoint his fans, standing between his fans and the Big Dogs like a hero in a Marvel flick.

Standout lyric: “Nchi where leaders are easy to pay, easy to sway.”

Kahu$h – The Fuckery

4. Ochiko – Naenjoy

Produced by: Kobby Worldwide

With two projects under his belt, Ochiko prepared his fans for a new body of work, the Salt & Water EP, with the release of the lead single, “Ochikore,” featuring Fancy Fingers, in November 2024.

The EP features one of our favorite songs of the month, “Naenjoy.” The song explores themes of love and romance, finding Ochiko smitten as he confesses to enjoying his love life, a sentiment shared in Tela Wangeci’s piece for Keja Ya Capo.

From the dreamy instrumentation to the impeccable songwriting, Ochiko is one to watch out for. We have the song on the loop here! 🔂

Ochiko – Naenjoy

3. Maandy x Ywaja Tajiri (Watendawili) – Baddies Need Love

Produced by: Metro Suka Doba

Just as January was about to end, Maandy blessed us with arguably her magnum opus thus far in her career, a new EP titled Baddies Need Love. In the past year, her discography has been filled with the Arbantone sound from songs like “Dem Mauru,” “Anapiga Pic Remix,” “Senke,” and more.

She brought it full swing in this new EP for new fans who might have missed her mellow side in past projects.

The EP is reminiscent of her 2023 project Flavour, featuring her soft and vulnerable side, giving the hardcore hood girl persona a break. Her new EP spun a new favorite, the titular “Baddies Need Love,” featuring Ywaja Tajiri (one-half of Watendawili).

Opening the EP, the song sets the tone and hooks us. Although it is their first collaboration, their undeniable chemistry shines through over Metro Suka Doba’s production, which complements it perfectly.

The message was clear and timely since Valentine’s Day is approaching. Kabaya!

MAANDY – “BADDIES NEED LOVE” Ft YWAYA TAJIRI

2. 4Mr Frank White x Iyanah – My Boo

Produced by: Jermaine Dupri x Scott scov

4MR Frank White began the year on a high by releasing his debut album TAIGWA GOMA, which translates to “The Beat Will Drop.” Towards the end of this spectacular project, both conceptually, lyrically, and sonically, “My Boo” finds and hits you without even recognizing it.

The song, which prominently features an interpolation of the classic “My Boo” by Usher and Alicia Keys (2004), finds 4Mr and Iyanah crooning over melodious harmonies. The two blend their styles, bringing a timeless piece of music.

The rapper, who brought the Afro-swing genre to the light in his new project, comes in with his sleek rapping, and Iyanah’s vocals shine through the instrumental like a sunset over the beach. “My Boo” stands out and is deservedly on the list. For a deeper dive into the album TAIGWA GOMA, check out Bervon Micheni’s review for Keja Ya Capo.

4Mr Frank White ft. Iyanah – My Boo

1. Calvo Mistari & Naiboi x Zzero Sufuri x Bobby Mapesa – Rudisha

Produced by: Dillie

“Rudisha,” which translates to “Return,” saw the renaissance of three legendary Kenyan artists. “Naskia Utam” hitmaker Bobby Mapesa, Calvo Mistari (behind one of the most motivational male empowerment anthems, “Mwanaume Ni Effort,”) and Naiboi—the trio linked with new-school talent Zzero Sufuri, the song’s heart and soul.

Produced by Dillie, directed by VJ One, and powered by Keja Ya Capo, the song features a nostalgic soundscape blended with Zzero Sufuri’s swagger on the chorus, combining all the featured artists’ styles into a certified hit.

The music video is filmed in the upscale Kilimani area and features some of Nairobi’s prettiest girls. It accurately depicts an ideal fun night in Nairobi.