Disability Didn’t Stop Him: Kamanu M’tumwaari’s Two-Decade Rise In Music And Advocacy
BY BARAKA SIMBA
THE HASTAG podcast, hosted by Chris Mwololo and co-host Caroline Wanjira, recently featured KamaNu M’tumwaari—a Meru dialect musician, storyteller, and a proud person with albinism. KamaNu’s life and work are a powerful reminder that disability is not inability. For over two decades, he has entertained, inspired, and educated his community and Kenyans at large through music, poetry, and advocacy.
During the fifth episode of THE HASHTAG Podcast, aired on Signs TV—Kenya’s leading disability inclusion platform—KamaNu shared how becoming a musician was a dream he held since childhood, one that took shape more clearly during his time in university.
"On campus I joined the school band, and that’s when I started getting a real feel for being an artist. I always knew deep down that I wanted to be a musician—and not just any musician, but a renowned one. My fellow students were really impressed. So throughout my campus life, I was fully involved with the school band," M’tumwaari shared. He attended Kenyatta University, where he studied for a Bachelor of Education in Special Education.
Born in Meru County into a family of 12 children—six of whom, including himself, have albinism—M’tumwaari said he had no difficulty coping, being the last born. Although he encountered stereotypes and societal stigma, he never allowed them to deter him.
He recalled that he began as a poet during his primary and high school years, often writing and reciting poems in French. His education started at St. Luke’s School for the Blind (formerly Schizophrenia School for the Blind), now known as the School for the Visually Impaired, where he completed his primary schooling in 1994.
"While at St. Luke’s School, I was deeply interested in music. I used to listen to music a lot. I remember during one of the music festivals I attended, a judge commented that I had a commanding voice—that really boosted my morale," he said.
His time at Kenyatta University became a defining chapter, sharpening his musical talent and building the confidence that carried him to national recognition. Today, KamaNu stands as a true example that talent exists in everyone, regardless of ability or background.
In a world where disability is too often seen before the person, KamaNu urged fellow persons with disabilities, especially those with albinism, to keep nurturing their gifts and believing in their potential.
Follow this episode of the Signs TV podcast “THE HASHTAG” on our YouTube (https://youtu.be/NKz9OJnWeoY?si=Eb4EkNI_q0TMdYEn) & Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/share/v/173KqT4K4x/), with a repeat on Signs TV every Monday at 10 PM!
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