Akothee’s amazing transformation in 10 photos

Martin Oduor

December 1, 2016 11:50 AM

Esther Akoth popularly known as Akothee is the personification of hope in the face of abject poverty. She rose from being a nobody to being Kenya’s richest musician.

Akothee only became rich six or seven years ago, before that her story wouldn’t make headline on any news outlet.

She was married at the age of 14 when she was still a student in high school in Homa Bay County. Her parents were against her marriage so she ran away with her sweetheart to Awendo, Migori County.

The flamboyant singer got her first baby at the age of 14, and by 16 she had already delivered three kids. All this while she was staying at her in-law’s house where she also served as a househelp for 7 long years.

Akothee’s third child succumbed to illness because she didn’t have money to take her to hospital. She got her fourth baby in 2000 to replace the lost one.

Her marriage crumbled in the same year she gave birth to her fourth child and her in-laws sent her packing.

The “Give it to me” singer started selling omena to raise money for her school fees (she went back to complete secondary education) and to feed her three daughters.

Akothee got back with her husband in 2003 and went to live with him in Nairobi. But then again her hubby dumped her with her three daughters in 2006.

The songbird tried several professions after the split with her husband; she became a dancer in a band, she also became a taxi driver.

It was during her stint as a taxi driver in Mombasa that she met a diplomat who was interested in finding out what drove her into a male dominated profession.

Akothee finally fell in love with the diplomat and she moved to Zurich, Switzerland with him. She conceived a son, Ojwang, with the diplomat.

She also conceived another interracial son, Oyoo.

The singer split with the diplomat after realizing he didn’t want to marry her; she returned to Kenya to start her own businesses; Akothee Property, Akothee Safaris etc.

Martin Oduor