Chris Brown Ready To Perform In Kenya Under Only One Condition

Chris Brown Ready To Perform In Kenya Under Only One Condition

American R&B superstar Chris Brown is unlikely to perform in Kenya in the foreseeable future, and it has nothing to do with money.

Instead, the award-winning singer has cited inadequate infrastructure as the main reason for skipping the country on his tour schedule and might only consider coming back if things change.

Burna Boy In Kenya

According to Joy Wachira, the Managing Director of Madfun Group—an event production, travel, and ticketing company—Chris Brown was the first artist they approached before booking Nigerian Afrobeats star Burna Boy for his highly anticipated Nairobi concert on March 1.

“We initially reached out to Chris Brown to bring him to Kenya, but he turned us down. For Breezy, it wasn’t about the money; it was about our infrastructure,” Wachira told Nairobi News in a recent interview.

The R&B singer reportedly declined the offer, citing a lack of appropriate facilities to support the kind of elaborate stage performances he is known for.

“Chris Brown wants to come on stage flying from one end of the arena to the other, just like he did in South Africa. Now tell me, where in Kenya is he going to do that?” Wachira questioned. “That was a wake-up call for me—we need to do better.”

Chris Brown’s History in Kenya

The last and only time Chris Brown performed in Kenya was on October 8, 2016, at the Mombasa Rocks Festival. The event made headlines, as reports indicated that the singer was paid a staggering $900,000 (approximately Ksh 90 million at the time) for a 90-minute set.

Regular tickets for that concert cost Ksh 10,000, while VIP tickets went for Ksh 20,000—considered an unprecedented price point at the time.

Fast-forward to 2024, and ticket prices for international concerts have skyrocketed, with VIP tickets for Burna Boy’s upcoming Nairobi show now costing Ksh 65,000.

Joy Wachira also pointed out that Chris Brown’s last performance in Kenya felt more like a private show.

“I was there, and honestly, it was a different time. Artists evolve, and so do their standards and expectations for live performances,” she added.

While fans in Kenya may still hold out hope for another Chris Brown concert, it seems unlikely unless significant upgrades are made to the country’s event infrastructure.