Koffi Olomide has assured his Nairobi fans his show at Jamhuri showground will go on despite threats by those suing him.
There were fears that the highly anticipated show at The Dome, Jamhuri showground on Ngong Road on 9th December 2023 would be cancelled after Koffi was sued by local promoters over the flopped gig in 2016.
Promoters Jules Nsana and Noah Auma Muga of Nsana production threatened to disrupt Koffi’s show unless they are paid a debt of close to Ksh10 million arising from the musician’s botched show in 2016.
In 2016, Koffi Olomide was blocked from performing and thrown out of the country, for allegedly assaulting one of his female dancers ahead of the extravaganza.
In a demand letter, the two promoters through lawyer Thiong’o Gachaga of Githumbi & Achoki Advocates, are demanding a refund of $50,032 (Ksh7,669,905) and a further Ksh1,410,000 plus interest at current rates from the date of the performance.
The promoters are threatening to go to court to recover the money as efforts to get the payment since 2016 have been futile, claiming the 67-year-old singer had became elusive.
The promoters say they met all the terms agreed upon in a binding contract between them and Koffi Olomide for the March 2016 show that never happened.
“Our clients thus have suffered the loss of expected earnings from the event. Your being deported was self-inflicted and thus any liability is directly borne by you and not our clients. Our clients thereafter followed up with you for the refund of the direct costs that they had used to mobilise for the event but to date, you have not refunded the costs,” the demand letter reads.
The plaintiff said as part of the deal, the promoters paid $20,000 (Ksh3 million) as deposit for the performance to Koffi, sent $1,000 (Ksh153,000) to Koffi Olomide Aliane as instructed and paid $25,172 (Ksh3,860,000) for a return ticket to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The local promoters also claimed they paid $1,210 (Ksh186,000) as accommodation at Villa Rosa Kempinski, a further $2,650 (Ksh406,000) for transport charges, visa charges of the band in Congo and in Kenya, paid Ksh580,000 to advertise the show and a further Ksh350,000 to the Bomas of Kenya as venue fees.
The letter also said the promoters paid Ksh480,000 as equipment charges but the show was cancelled and the singer was deported over assault claims, forcing the cancellation of the show.
The promoters gave Koffi a 12-hour ultimatum to settle the debt or else they will ensure the show scheduled to be held at The Dome, Jamhuri showground on Ngong Road, doesn’t happen as planned.
“Strictly note within 12 hours from the date of this demand (7th December 2023) our clients intend to stop your show at The Dome, Jamhuri showground on Ngong Road on 9th December 2023. We have taken the liberty to inform the administrative units within the areas which you are purposed to perform,” the lawyer said in the letter, which has also been copied to the Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI), OCS Jamhuri police station and Director of Immigration.
However in a quick rejoinder, Koffi Olomide assured his fans in Nairobi that the Saturday show will go on as planned in spite of the threats from the local promoters.
Through his lawyers, Koffi dismissed threats that the concert would be stopped over allegations that he owes a local promoter money for an aborted 2016 concert.
“The event organiser stands resolute in dismissing the baseless allegations recently brought to light. The accusations brought against Koffi Olomide have been thoroughly reviewed and found to be frivolous, vexatious, and without merit or substance,” Conrad Law Advocates said in a press release Thursday evening.
Related: Koffi Olomide returns to Kenya 7 years after Matiang’i banished him from the country
