Harmonize arrested for conning promoter in Kileleshwa

Piece by: Grace Kerongo and Cyrus Ombati
Exclusives

• The promoter demands Ksh 1.45m from Harmonize and his management over the losses incurred.

Harmonize
Image: Instagram

Word on the street is that visiting Bongo star Harmonize has been arrested and is at Kileleshwa Police station.

A source told Mpasho that Harmonize is currently cooling his heels at the Kileleshwa Police station.

On Friday Night Harmonize together with comedian Eric Omondi were embroiled in a dramatic encounter with dissatisfied revellers at Captains Lounge. 

Speaking to the media during the Africa Moja concert, Eric said that there was a misunderstanding from fans on what Harmonize was expected to do at the club. 

"A lot of things happened, it was a party and some people were excited...the club was small. There is a difference between a concert and/event. Kenyans must understand that it was a club appearance/technical appearance/meet and greet/ an afterparty," Eric Omondi said. 

He defended Harmonize's brief performance at the club - he performed for 1 minute and 24 second, saying the Kwangwaru hitmaker was not obliged to entertain revelers that night. 

"The artist is supposed to just chill, he is not supposed to perform. Harmonize was coming to perform at KICC, Kenyans should understand. You can even pay 1 million, you know what a club appearance is...it happens worldwide."

People themselves demanded that Harmonize should perform, so he sang some songs. Even tomorrow we have another club appearance and the artists will not perform, unless at his own will. He should not be told what to do," Eric added.

The comedian further confirmed earlier reports that the crowd turned aggressive towards Harmonize and himself. 

“I feel Harmonize, people charged towards him, his car was stoned. I had to stay there for long, police had to be there because people were waiting for me outside."

Revelers were charged Ksh 1000, for regular tickets, Sh 2,000 for VIP, and Sh 5,000 for VVIP.

The aftermath of the chaos left the musician with injuries and his car vandalised.

Harmonize who is known as Rajab Abdul Kahali was detained at the Kileleshwa police station, for questioning over complaints from the show.

Police said they were investigating claims of obtaining by false pretense. Several of his fans thronged the station when news of his arrest came out.

Kilimani police boss Mbogo Muturi said his officers were acting on complaints from some of the artist’s handlers.

Melamani Limited, the promoter who brought Harmonize to the country downplayed the claims of arrest, saying the artist had been taken to the police station for his ‘own security'.

The promoter was not even aware of the club appearances because he was only told that the 'Kwangwaru' hitmaker would only perform at the KICC.

According to Jor Barsil, a director at the Captain's Lounge in Sabaki, Konde Boy was supposed to perform for one and a half hours but only did five minutes.

“I paid Sh450,000 to Melamani Limited for Harmonize to come to the club for a party and to be with the fans for one and a half hours, but when he came he only stayed for not more than five minutes. This angered the fans who wanted to beat him up but I protected him, I want to be refunded the amount I spent,”Barsil said outside the police station.

He said the set up cost Sh1 million and the star's appearance cost Sh450,000.