In the realms of Kikuyu gospel music, Sammy Irungu is the undisputed King of the genre.
With hits like Ndukanjethe, Kiriro Giaku, Mwei wa Githima, Muthenya Wakwa, and Kaundu Kega, which have garnered millions of views on YouTube, and collaborations with celebrated musicians like Christina Shusho, Irungu has shattered the glass ceiling of his musical career.
This is his journey as told by WoK
Early Life
Irungu was born in Olenguruone in Molo, Nakuru county.
The family stayed in Olenguruone until 1992 when they moved to Nairobi in the wake of tribal clashes that followed the 1992 elections.
Sammy schooled and sat for his KCPE at Thawabu primary school in Kayole until 1998. In a past interview, Sammy revealed that Thawabu was the end of his education journey as his family was not endowed enough to take him to high school.
Consequently, he moved to Donholm and engaged in menial jobs such as mjengo for sustenance.
However, his musical talent began to show and he wrote several songs during this period but could not record them due to lack of money.
In 2008, he moved to Nakuru where he produced his first song in audio. However, he soon returned to Nairobi as the Nakuru environment was not very supportive of his musical career.
“It is very hard for a Kikuyu gospel musician to hit in Nakuru,” he once said.
At Nairobi, he saved some money and recorded his first musical video. He would also attend various churches and events, where he excelled as a praise and worship leader.
Music Career
One day, while performing at a Kesha, a stranger asked for his contacts. The stranger would later turn out to be a worker at Royal Media Services, who would connect him to Inooro FM head Zulu Thiong’o. That was in 2010.
Sammy received a call and was hired at Inooro FM to lead a praise and worship program alongside other musicians like Allan Aaron.
Because he had produced several songs by this time, he used the chance to submit his music at Inooro, reaching a nationwide audience and boosting his career.
He also released his first hit Niwikite Magegania, which ranked top of playlists in many churches, especially during devotions.
In 2015, he released another album, which contained another hit song Kirathimo Giakwa.
By 2017, Sammy Irungu was a household name and his songs played on loop in many a lad’s memory card.
His crowning moment was in 2017 when he collaborated with Phylis Mbuthia to release Muheani. The song made history as the most-watched Kikuyu gospel song of all time on YouTube.
He has also mentored and collaborated with various upcoming musicians and is credited for the success of one of his closest competitors, Sammy K.
Irungu has bagged several awards, including the coveted groove award and Mwafaka Awards in 2019.
In 2021, he collaborated with celebrated Tanzanian songstress Christina Shusho for the song Tuine Ruimbo.
Controversy
Despite his success, Sammy Irungu is no stranger to controversy. In 2019, he made headlines in blogs and social media channels when a recording of himself hurling unprintable insults at a pastor’s wife leaked.
Following the scandal, he was fired from Royal Media.
In 2022, photos of himself in various states of undress were leaked online, making him the subject of discussion and numerous social media trends.
However, his cult-like fans defended him, saying that everyone makes mistakes.
Family
A devout family man, Irungu married his wife in 2010. The couple has three kids, although the musician has excelled at keeping his family below the public radar.
