Capital FM is marking its 30th anniversary by putting Kenyan musicians and DJs at the centre of its celebrations, with the Third Flow Experience bringing together three generations of local talent for a major concert in Limuru.
The decision to go with an exclusively Kenyan lineup is a deliberate statement by the station as it celebrates three decades on air.
At a time when major entertainment events often feature international performers, Capital FM has chosen to use its 30th anniversary to celebrate the musicians, DJs and sounds that have shaped Kenya’s music scene over the years.
The Third Flow Experience will be held at The Stables Magnate City in Limuru, bringing together performers representing three distinct eras of Capital FM’s journey: 1996–2006, 2006–2016 and 2016–2026.
Dubbed The Pioneers, Culture Shapers and The Next Flow, the three eras will bring different generations of Kenyan musicians and DJs onto one stage, creating a musical journey through 30 years of changing sounds and culture.
Representing The Pioneers, covering the 1996–2006 period, will be Juacali, Sanaipei, Gravitti Band, Necessary Noize, DJ Krowbar and DJ Adrian.
The artists represent a period when Kenyan music was evolving rapidly and Capital FM was establishing itself as an important platform for local music and entertainment.
The second era, Culture Shapers, covering 2006–2016, will feature Fena, Juliani, Femi One, Daddy Owen, The Flower Project, DJ Joe Mfalme and DJ UV.
This generation reflects another important chapter in the development of Kenyan music, as new artists, genres, performers and DJs emerged and helped shape the country’s cultural landscape.
The third era, The Next Flow, covering 2016–2026, brings together Serro, Njerae, Bensoul, Charisma, The Unit Band, DJ Pikachu, DJ Schwaz and DJ Kdeja.
They represent a newer generation of Kenyan musicians and DJs whose work has contributed to the contemporary sound of Kenyan music and connected with a younger audience.
Bringing all three generations together is at the heart of Third Flow. Rather than marking its anniversary with a single generation of performers, Capital FM is using Kenyan music itself to tell the story of its 30-year journey.
The all-local lineup is particularly significant for a station whose relationship with music has been central to its identity.
For three decades, Capital FM has provided a platform through which Kenyan musicians could reach audiences, while local artists have in turn supplied much of the music that has defined the station’s entertainment programming.
The anniversary concert therefore goes beyond a celebration of Capital FM. It is also a celebration of Kenyan musicians and the evolution of Kenyan music across three generations.
From the artists who were part of the station’s formative years to those who shaped its second decade and the younger generation defining its latest chapter, the lineup reflects the changing character of the local music industry.
It also brings together three generations of listeners who have experienced different eras of Capital FM and Kenyan music.
Beyond the music, the anniversary celebrations have provided an opportunity to look back at some of the people who helped build the station.
Capital FM founder Lynda Holt recently returned to the station for a candid interview with Capital in the Morning hosts Chiko Lawi and Maalika Kazia, reflecting on the origins of the station, her journey building the brand and the eventual decision to hand over ownership to the late businessman Dr Chris Kirubi.
Holt described the decision to sell the station as a personal crossroads, saying she had reached a point where she felt she had done what she could with Capital FM.
“I was at a point in my life where I felt I had done what I could with Capital FM and it was time for me to move on,” Holt told Lawi. “Chris Kirubi was a friend, and he approached me and expressed interest in buying it. I knew that he had the resources and the drive to take Capital FM to the next level, so it made sense to pass the baton to him.”
Holt also spoke warmly about Kirubi’s stewardship, saying he preserved the character of the station while taking it into areas she felt might have been beyond what she could achieve at the time.
Her return has provided a direct link to the beginnings of the journey now being celebrated through Third Flow.
The anniversary has also brought back some of the familiar voices and personalities associated with Capital FM over the years.
Eric Latiff, who spent many years as a news presenter at Capital FM and is now with NTV’s Fixing the Nation, returned to the station and read the 6pm news bulletin.
Laura Walubengo, whose distinctive voice was long associated with Capital FM, also returned to read a news bulletin.
Maqbul Mohamed and Renee Ngamau returned for a special Breakfast Show programme, while Amina Abdi Rabar and DJ Joe Mfalme took over Capital in the Morning.
Muthoni Bwika and DJ Tumz have also been part of the anniversary reunions, reconnecting with audiences and former colleagues.
The former presenters and DJs reminisced about their years at the station, while longtime fans welcomed the opportunity to hear familiar voices once again.
But at the centre of the 30th anniversary celebrations remains the music.
By choosing an exclusively Kenyan lineup, Capital FM is using its milestone to shine a spotlight on local musicians, celebrate their contribution to the station and showcase the evolution of Kenyan music over three decades.
The Third Flow Experience will bring those three chapters together through music, DJs, memories and audiences.
The concert will be held on October 3 at The Stables Magnate City in Limuru, with early bird tickets going for Sh3,500, inclusive of a meal, against the regular price of Sh5,000.
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