Nyamari Ongegu popularly known as Nyashinski returned to Kenya in 2016 after spending more than a decade in the US where he worked in different professions.
Nyashinski left Kenya for US when he was only 21. He sought greener pastures in America as he was struggling musically speaking.
Upon arriving in Delaware, US, Nyashinski was initially thrilled at the prospect of a new beginning, despite being aware that he was leaving his music career behind.
“It was probably the best thing that could have happened to me. Growing up with that attention from my music may have stunted me somewhat. I was happy to leave Kenya. I had started getting tired of keeping up with the momentum of releasing good music. Plus the allure of the US we saw in movies was enticing,” Nyasinki said in an interview with WoK.
In the US, Nyashinski worked in the banking sector delivering transaction proofs to banks before he joined the trucking industry where he served as a long-distance lorry driver.
“Many Kenyans do that job over there. I was getting $900 dollars per week. It was a full day’s job. I lived with a little dog and the money sustained me just fine, though the living expenses were higher there than here,” Nyashinski recalled.
Nyashinski later transitioned to the trucking business, which required him to undergo a short truck-driving course.
“I called up my father and told him about it. That I needed about $5000 for the course. Dad was shocked, to say the least. “You want to drive trucks? After refusing to go back to university?” But he relented and he went looking for the money because he didn’t have it. We aren’t very rich, but he finally managed to get the money and I enrolled for the driving course for three months,” he said.
After the training, he was given a truck to run.
Despite the financial stability, the job was physically and emotionally draining.
The long hours on the road led to strained relationships and took a toll on his health.
“I had started wearing out. The job runs you down. And it is a lonely existence because you are on the road for weeks on end. Just you, the truck and the long road ahead. Relationships breakdown, your health suffers too. I knew many older drivers whose marriages had broken down due to the work. Also, I know I worried my parents a lot. They didn’t know where I was sleeping, they were scared of me getting an accident, which thankfully, through the years, I didn’t. Not even a speeding ticket,” Nyashinski recalled.
While the trucking business provided financial security, Nyashinski felt a persistent call to return to his true passion – music.
After years of contemplation, Nyashinski made the decision to come back home to Kenya. He sought his parents’ blessings and moved back into their Nairobi West home in 2016.
Nyashinski made a thunderous music comeback dropping hits after hits, his first song ‘Now You Know’ was meant to send a message that he was back to reclaim his top position in the Kenyan music scene.
Nyashinski ultimately cemented his name as Kenya’s arguably best rapper alive following his music comeback, topping music charts and bagging international accolades.
