April 21, 2026
'Politicians Weaponizing Hunger To Gain Votes!' - Kenya Rapper Octopizzo

‘Politicians Weaponizing Hunger To Gain Votes!’ – Kenya Rapper Octopizzo

Kenyan rapper and activist Henry Ohanga, alias Octopizzo, has accused politicians of exploiting the poor rather than assisting them.

On the night of Monday, June 16, 2025, the Kibera-born rapper took to his official X account to claim that poverty in Kenya is no longer only a condition, but also a political tool.

According to Octopizzo, political leaders use hunger to gain votes, provide handouts instead of dignity, and establish empires on broken promises.

“In Kenya, poverty is no longer a crisis; it is a currency. Politicians don’t just ignore the poor; they farm them,” Octopizzo stated.

“They weaponise hunger to harvest votes, offer handouts in place of dignity, and build empires on broken promises.”

Drawing on his own experiences growing up in Kibera, he produced a realistic image of the hardships that many Kenyans suffer on a daily basis.

This includes a scarcity of clean water, unsafe shelter, limited access to education, and systemic neglect.

“Growing up in Kibera taught me this: When you can’t afford basic dignity like clean water, secure shelter, and education. You begin to trade your values for survival without even realising it,” he stated.

According to Octopizzo, Kenya’s electoral process has devolved into a vicious cycle in which poverty is intentionally maintained to ensure political domination.

“It’s not that the poor lack morals, NO, it’s that the system robs them of the space to practise them. Poverty has become the leash; elections, the collar. It’s traumatic!” the artiste wrote on X.

Earlier, Octopizzo had criticized Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen for recently proposed police reforms.

He accuses Murkomen of making cosmetic adjustments in the face of systemic cruelty within the police force.

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On Monday, June 16, 2025, Octopizzo wrote a strongly worded post on X, describing the reforms as an attempt to put polish on bloodstains.

He pointed to the execution of Homa Bay-based teacher and blogger Albert Ojwang as a clear illustration of impunity within the system.

“Cameras inside walls while young men like Albert Ojwang are dragged out and executed in the streets where there’s no CCTV? Don’t insult our intelligence,” the rapper posted.

He also called for body cameras and public accountability for officers involved in human rights abuses.

‘Politicians Weaponizing Hunger To Gain Votes!’ – Kenya Rapper Octopizzo

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