By Ogova Ondego
Published February 20, 2021
Three weeks after announcing her KSh50 000 (US$500) gate fee per head to the launch of her 8-track Kuna Nguvu Katika Neno album in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, Tanzanian gospel singer Rose Mhando continues to be gripped by a vice of awkwardness, having to defend her venture on almost every Kiswahili radio station in Nairobi that creates room for her.
The message of the woman who was previously known as Sofia Mhando prior to her conversion to Christianity from Islam to Kenyans through stations such as Radio Jambo, Radio Maisha and Milele FM is that the money collected from the album launch concert to be held at the exclusive Villa Rosa Kempinski Hotel is for building God the church she says God has asked her to construct.
RELATED: Popularity Poses Dilemma for Tanzanian Gospel Musician
Saying she is a singer and not a preacher or a priest, Mhando says she, like Solomon son of David king of ancient Israel, has been asked to build the church and that God will provide the resources besides raising up people to serve Him from it.
Where will the church be located?
Mhando, who says she is the last of five children born to Hadija Mohamed and Athman Mhando, tells Milele FM it is God who has asked her to build the house for Him and that she doesn’t even know where that sanctuary shall be built; it could be in Kenya or anywhere that God chooses.
RELATED: Why Nairobi Youth Idolise ‘Socialites’ and’ Sponsors’
But what type of building is envisaged?
“Itakuwa nyumba kubwa, nzuri na ya kumfurahisha Mungu,” she tells Alex Mwakideu of Milele FM.
Mhando, who says she first came to Kenya at the invitation of Pastor Pius Muiru of Maximum Miracle Centre after the 2004 launch of her all-time popular Mteule Uwe Macho album, says two preachers have pledged to support the church-building project for the glory of God.
Upon seeing the publicity poster of the Sh50 000 Nguvu Katika Neno album launch, many Kenyans wondered whether Mhando was confusing the Kenyan Shilling for the Tanzanian Shilling that is 21 times weaker than the former.
RELATED: Nothing to Wear Again on International Women’s Day?
The bashing began the moment she confirmed the gate fee is charged in Kenyan, not Tanzanian, currency.
“Can the Kenyan market afford Rose Mhando’s Sh50K per head ticket? Mhando and her handlers don’t know Nairobi, do they? Here, few can afford food, shelter and medication, none of which costs anything close to Sh50K at a go,” a Facebook user commented.
But another retorted, “Do you remember at one point in 2018 when Vila Rosa Kempinski put a price tag of Sh2 million per head on a valentine day and all rooms were sold out? There were So many Kenyans left in the who were on the booking queue.”
“I think Mhando is targeting sone 50 – 100 sponsors and partners, not 200 – 500 fans paying Sh2500 – Sh5000 per ticket,” another said.
RELATED: Can Youth Protest Bring About Lasting Change?
Twitter users, too, had their say:
“Is this thing serious ama n jokes?” @brendah_nafula posed on the live stream of NTV Kenya.
“Kwani venue ni heaven!”, @Kuria_Wangari remarked.
“Kwani viumbe wanne walio hai ndio wana curtain raise?”, countered @AustinMaserero.
“kwani yesu ndio MC?”, another said.
RELATED: Use Nollywood Filmmaking Model to Boost Economy
“I need your support and contribution so that I may continue preaching the word of God in all corners of the earth,” Mhando says on YouTube.
A fortnight after asking for the money to enable her ‘continue preaching the word of God in all corners of the earth,’ Mhando started talking about building a hekalu, kanisa or house of worship for God.
Mhando says she has been coming to minister in Kenya over the past 17 years following her inaugural visit at the invitation of Muiru.
RELATED: Unique Creative Residency Space Comes to Africa
Like Abraham of Ur who was given Canaan, Mhando of Tanzania says God has given Kenya to her and that she must heed the voice of God in whatever she does as ‘Obedience is better than sacrifice.”
She gives the titles of two of the eight tracks on the Kuna Nguvu Katika Neno album as Miamba imepasuka and Wewe ni Mlima Wangu.
