Director D and Tugen Finest: from the studio to Radio Citizen

Flowers and fruit are among the last things you see on a tree, long after the watering and weeding. They are a testament to the time and care put in. The same is true of Director D and Tugen Finest, two young vernacular musicians whose rise Momi Foundation is proud to have been part of.

Where it started

In December 2022, the Momi team took three musicians and two producers, one of them from Kapsowar, into the studio at A Sound Masters Records, and helped them produce three songs. Director D, in the yellow jacket, was one of the artists in that session. Read about it in Helping Kapsowar musicians record their songs.

A hit and an audience

Momi Foundation took Director D back to the studio with Tugen Finest to record "Mimi Nataka Mkale", sung in Kalenjin, which became Director D's second hit, three years after his first studio session with us in December 2022. Their music found its audience: by March 2025, Tugen Finest Souls were thanking fans for 300,000 views on YouTube. To promote "Mimi Nataka Mkale", we connected Director D with the TikTok creator Trukid, who met him to help spread the song to young audiences online.

On national radio

On 4 April 2025, from 7 to 8 AM, Director D and Tugen Finest appeared live on Radio Citizen's "Jambo Kenya" show, hosted by Vincent Ateya and Melody Sinzore. Two young artists who sing in their local language were now talking to listeners across Kenya.

Why we back young artists

It is a real joy to be part of their success. With a little leverage, talent can go a long way. Our CEO's work in Nairobi in early 2025 touched music, construction and education, and music remains one of the clearest ways we see young people from Marakwet growing beyond what they imagined.

Creative talent counts as much as sport and school. Read about Anselimo Arts, follow us on Facebook and YouTube, or support young artists.