John Kimeli Kemei

By William Kiptoo

The older generations of the 1980s and earlier may remember who John Kimeli Kemei, of the Kenya Prisons Staff Choir was. His patriotic and gospel songs roared on radio waves, filling homes, churches, and public gatherings with melodies that stirred both faith and national pride. His popular compositions included Tumikia Kenya — a call to serve the nation faithfully — and Utamanduni Wetu, Lugha Ya Mama, a celebration of Kenya’s cultural traditions and language.

Well, who exactly was he? Many may not know that John Kimeli Kemei was actually a resident of Sergoit in Uasin Gishu, though his roots trace back to Nandi, where he was born in the early 1950s. His family moved to Karo farm in Sergoit in the 1960s, where his mother worked, and later to Charar farm and Kapkuis farm. His peers at Karo Farm included Francis Tarar, the former MP for Eldoret East constituency, Councillor Peter Kemei among others.

While at Karo farm, Kemei attended Emsilies Primary School in the 1970s, a period that nurtured his discipline and creativity. It was during these formative years that his love for music began to blossom. It was at a school performance in Moiben (where he had gone to perform for the then Vice President Daniel Arap Moi) that his talent was spotted and was eventually recruited to the Kenya Prosons where he found a platform in the Kenya Prisons Staff Choir. This ensemble eventually became one of the country’s most celebrated institutional choirs.

As a composer and performer, Kemei’s artistry stood out. His songs carried the rhythms of Nandi, the harmonies of gospel, and the civic pride of a nation striving for unity. Through music, he became a custodian of heritage, embedding oral traditions and patriotic messages into compositions that resonated across generations. His works were not just entertainment, they were cultural statements, urging Kenyans to honor their traditions while embracing their duty to the nation.

In 1994, John Kimeli Kemei passed away after a short illness. He was laid to rest at his farm in Charar, leaving behind a legacy that continues to echo in Kenya’s collective memory. Though his voice fell silent, his songs remain alive, reminding us that music is more than melody, it is a vessel of identity, unity, and hope.

Cultural custodians are not always found in textbooks or monuments. Sometimes, they are the voices that once roared on radio waves, urging us to serve, to believe, and to remember who we are. John Kimeli Kemei’s legacy is a call to keep singing our heritage, so that future generations may never forget.