Female artists have long played a central role in shaping Kenyan music. Their contributions form a throughline from Queen Jane, Mercy Myra, Nazizi, Muthoni Drummer Queen, Suzanna Owiyo, STL, Femi One, Fena, Karun, and many others. Since the industry first came to be, there have always been women at the forefront of Kenya’s music industry. With so many artists to pay attention to, here’s a list with some of the Kenyan female artists, both established and upcoming, defining the sound of 2025.

1. Zaituni Wambui

Making a big splash in 2025, Zaituni Wambui has been impossible to ignore in the Kenyan music industry.

The Sauti Academy-trained artist has slowly but surely been building up an impressive catalogue of songs and collaborations in 2025. Inspired by the legendary Taarab artists Siti Binti Saad and Bi Kidude, she pursued her dreams in music, with a sound that is steeped in the coastal and taarab songs that played in her household as she grew up, which she refers to as Urban Taarab. 2025 has seen her collaborate with girl group We Are Nubia on the song DnD and with Producer Afamefuna on the track Not The One. She has also seen success with Tamu, the lead single from her upcoming EP, which has become a minor viral hit among Kenyan social media spaces. 2025 is clearly ramping up to be a banner year for Zaituni Wambui.

 

2. El Chi

Bold, innovative, brash, in-your-face, there are so many words to describe El Chi but the most important one is entertaining. The Nairobi-based rapper has caused waves with her unorthodox approach to music that throws away the rule book that guides the airwaves. Determined to carve her own path and define her own identity, Joy Achii, who goes by the stage name El Chi has been a breath of fresh air with the release of her debut single Bing Bong earlier this year. We are looking forward to more music from El Chi that challenges the norms of the industry.

 

3. N’Jiru

N’Jiru, also known as the one who sings, has been lighting up the Kenyan music scene with her genre-bending eclectic sound ever since she burst onto the scene with her viral hit E-Love.

A multi-disciplinary creative in her own right, she believes that art is just the translation of the experiences of the universe into a form that can be absorbed by the soul. After the release of her collaborative album HIZI STRTZ with Chevy Kev, she has released a slew of singles and expanded into the Afro house genre with collaborations with DJ Fita and DJ Mura among others.

2025 looks to be another solid year for her as she continues to build on the success of previous years.

4. We Are Nubia

The sensational duo known as We Are Nubia are bringing back the spirit of the girl group that has long been missing from Kenyan music. Carrying on the tradition of the groups that came before them, the duo of Maggie and Gloria have been creating music inspired by their cultural heritage and centering on themes of love since coming together in 2022.

After finishing 2024 on a high note with their single Aibu, they already have a hit song on their hands this year with DND together with Zaituni Wambui, a cheeky Afro pop song about finally fulfilling your desires and it seems that from here on out the sky’s the limit for Nairobi’s newest pop duo.

 

5. Savinnah

After a period as a backup singer to Kenyan pop sensation Nikita Kering and after a brief stint signed to Universal Music Group, pop starlet Savinnah has finally started to carve out her own niche.

She released her debut EP, Pardon Me, in 2023 which was an eclectic mix of pop, electronic and Afrobeat influences. Ever since that release she has continued to steadily release music including the EDM inspired single Blink Twice in 2024. With collaborations on the way with producers such as Danski and Ndovu Kuu, I for one, look forward to hearing more from her in the near future.

 

6. Ssaru

While she is not a newcomer to the music industry, having been actively releasing music since 2018 with a large number of hit songs in her catalogue such as Maintain and Gongewa, she is still an artist to watch. Ssaru’s biggest strength has always been her versatility as this has allowed her to effortlessly hop from one genre to another without missing a step.

She can move from Gengetone to Arbantone to Dancehall with an effortlessness that shows her talent and honed experience within the music industry. With an enviable work ethic and a release schedule that keeps her fans fed with new music constantly, it is only a matter of time until Ssaru hops onto a new genre and makes a hit song out of it.

 

7. Kasha

The elusive songbird known as Kasha is a darling of the Kenyan R&B music scene, with her music being recognized for her unique voice which carries a rich tone and perfect control. Her music infuses a rich local flavor into international influences which creates one of the most unique styles of R&B in Kenya.

Her music is inspired by a variety of subjects such as love, loss, corruption and much more. After three well received collaborations with producer Ukweli, Dunia, Silaha and Hamna Aibu, she released her first single of 2025, BaLaa, an uptempo Afro pop party anthem. The track has been well received by her fans and has created excitement about future releases from her.

 

8. Tina Ardor

Every Afro house lover in Kenya knows who Tina Ardor is, the diminutive DJ and Producer who is famous for her DJ skills as well as for her signature wide brimmed hat that she often wears during her performances. Tina Ardor has been one of the leading voices in championing the creation and growth of Kenyan Afro house, which has seen an listenership explosion in 2025. In her artistic journey she has collaborated with some of the biggest Afro house artists in Africa such as Atmos Blaq and Drumetic Boys on songs such as Kamweretho. As Afro house continues rising to the top of the Kenyan music charts, we can only expect more rhythmic magic from Tina Ardor in 2025.

 

9. Stacy Kamatu

Stacy Kamatu has been in the industry for a while, always bubbling under while providing soulful songs which interweave English, Swahili and her mother language Kikuyu. First gaining prominence for the song Coka Mucie, which chronicles a lover asking for his partner to get back home she spent a few quiet years before re-emerging with Buy Me Love in 2024, which reminded the world of how talented she is.

She has already collaborated with producer Afamefuna in 2025 and everyone is looking forward to what the rest of the year will bring for her.

 

10. Polaris 

Polaris, also known as Polaris Pauline, has been a mainstay of the Kenyan music community for almost a decade now. Starting off as a member of the girl group Kiu, she then pursued a solo career after the group disbanded and most famously linked up with South African DJ and producer, Prince Kaybee, for the monster hit Umenitosha.

She has become a frequent collaborator with artists such as Kagwe Mungai and Muthoni the Drummer Queen while releasing her EP, Tufanye? With the title track being a reflection of a relationship caught on the crossroads. It is only a matter of time until she blesses us with her undeniable talent again in 2025.