Popular Kamba musician Ben Batha, popularly known as Kativui, is facing criticism after a Nairobi-based event organizer publicly accused him of failing to honor a performance agreement despite allegedly receiving advance payments.
The allegations were made by content creator and event promoter Rick Be, who released a detailed statement on Sunday claiming the artist failed to appear at the highly publicized Rick Be Club Tour Birthday Takeover held at Blackwood Site in Pipeline, Nairobi County.
According to Rick Be, the event, which took place on the night of June 20, 2026, attracted a large crowd and featured several invited artists. However, Kativui’s absence reportedly left fans disappointed and sparked unrest at the venue.
In the statement, Rick Be claimed he personally contacted Kativui on June 9 to discuss the event, with the singer allegedly confirming his availability and commitment to perform. He further alleged that he sent the artist a KSh50,000 deposit as part of the agreed performance fee.
The promoter said that days before the event, Kativui requested to be scheduled as the final performer after receiving another invitation to attend an event in Kitui County. The request was reportedly granted.
Rick Be further alleged that on the day of the event, Kativui contacted him again and requested an additional payment toward the outstanding balance, prompting him to send a further KSh10,000.
As the event progressed into the early hours of the morning, Rick Be said efforts to reach the singer became increasingly difficult. He claimed Kativui eventually answered his phone at around 2:15 a.m., and was reminded that he was expected on stage at 3:30 a.m.
However, the musician allegedly failed to show up.
“Unfortunately, he failed to appear and has not responded to my subsequent calls up to this moment,” Rick Be stated.
The promoter says the no-show angered some attendees who had specifically turned up to watch Kativui perform. He further claimed that frustrated fans became unruly, leading to damage of property within the club.
The incident has since generated heated debate on social media, with fans divided over the allegations. While some have demanded an explanation from the artist, others have urged the public to wait for Kativui’s side of the story before reaching conclusions.
As of the time of publication, Kativui had not publicly responded to the claims made by Rick Be.
The controversy now raises fresh questions about professionalism and accountability in Kenya’s entertainment industry, where disputes between artists and event organizers have increasingly played out in public.
