Spoken word artist and activist Willie Oeba, known for using his art to call out social injustices in Kenya, has revealed the personal experience that pushed him to take his craft and activism more seriously.
Speaking during a popular podcast on July 4, Oeba recounted a near-assassination attempt that occurred in 2017 when he had gone to Nakuru Town to buy a birthday cake for his mother.
He recalled being approached by a visibly drunk police officer who cocked a gun and pointed it at his head. Oeba had been mistaken for a member of a notorious criminal gang known as “Confirm,” which was at the time terrorising residents in Nakuru.
“I was almost shot in 2017 for mistaken identity in Nakuru. I began spoken word in 2014, and on January 21, 2017, my mom’s birthday, I was going to town to pick up a cake for her birthday. I had on sweatpants and a sweatshirt, like the classic stereotype, because there was a gang in Nakuru dubbed “Confirm,” and they were looking for someone who looked like me,” Oeba said.
In a moment of quick reflex, he struck the officer’s hand, causing the gun to fall, and then ran into the road. The gun was left behind on the ground.
He later reported the matter and followed up with the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), but justice was never served.
“They were looking at a phone, and one officer in uniform, who was notably drunk, cocked a gun and put it to my head. I hit the gun and ran into the road, and they left the gun there. We followed up with IPOA, and it was very crazy,” he stated further.
Disillusioned by the lack of accountability, Oeba turned fully to the spoken word and poetry tools he had been nurturing for years to speak out against systemic injustices such as enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings.
He explained that this traumatic encounter became a turning point, fuelling his decision to write and perform pieces that expose societal evils and give a voice to the voiceless.
He strongly criticised the current structure of the police service, saying it no longer serves the interests of ordinary citizens but instead protects the elite.
He refused to refer to it as a “service,” instead calling it a “force,” especially in light of recent events where police used excessive force against peaceful protestors.
“From that point, I started using my poetry to talk about enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings—because if we stop writing, what happens to people who can’t hold a pen?” he concluded.
Awards and recognition
Oeba is a Kenyan spoken word artist, poet, musician, and activist from Nakuru, known for his powerful lyricism and advocacy for social justice, economic equity, and democracy.
He began his career in 2014 and has since gained recognition for his thought-provoking poetry that addresses human rights, gender issues, and Kenyan societal challenges, often using witty puns and deep metaphors.
As the CEO of ISM Academy, he leads a team of 24 young “artivists” to combat inequality through creative expression, empowering marginalised artists to achieve financial independence.
Oeba has received several accolades, including the Upcoming Human Rights Defender Award from the Defenders Coalition in 2021, the East Africa Spoken Word Battle Champion title in 2018, and the Safaricom BLAZE BYOB Nakuru winner in 2017.
Artistic works
His work includes notable pieces like “Wajinga Nyinyi Part 4” (a collaboration following King Kaka’s series) and his album Dear God, inspired by a near-death experience in 2017 when he was mistaken for a gang member due to his dreadlocks. This incident fuelled his commitment to social justice advocacy through art.
He is also active in civic education, notably through matatu (public transport) performances to raise awareness about governance and social issues—a practice he began in 2017 and intensified during the 2024 Maandamano protests.
His music and poetry are available on platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and Boomplay, with tracks such as “Dear God,” “SHUJAA,” and “KENYA,” featuring collaborations with artists like Nakuru All Stars and Vanessa Pym.
