Jaguar opens up on failed American dream, deportation drama and rise to stardom

Kenyan singer-turned-politician Jaguar is known for his hit tracks and flashy lifestyle, but behind the glitz lies a dramatic story of crushed dreams, deportation, and a gritty comeback that could be straight out of a film.

In a candid interview on Kameme FM, Jaguar opened up about a painful chapter in his past, detailing how a hopeful trip to the United States quickly spiraled into a nightmare.

Like many Kenyans heading abroad for the first time, Jaguar says he packed everything he thought he’d need, plus gifts for friends and family in the diaspora. But upon arriving in Detroit with six bags, his dream began to unravel.

“Having six bags raised suspicion,” Jaguar recalled. “Upon landing, immigration officials asked me where I was going. I said Maryland, to see a promoter — but I didn’t have any supporting documents.”

A photo of his girlfriend didn’t help matters. “I had my girlfriend’s photo, and this raised further suspicion. They asked why I was carrying it, if at all I intended to come back to Kenya,” he said.

@gathekisenior1 njorua ya kothi kameme fm with baby top muthoni wa kiruba interviewing Jaguar as he told his music story #njoruayakothi #jaguar #babytop #muthoniwakirumba #kameme #ay #vukaborder #kigeugeu #fyp ♬ original sound - Gatheki Senior

Then came the shocker: “I knew once I got a white woman, my problems would disappear,” Jaguar admitted.

The end result? He was deported and sent back to Kenya. Ashamed and demoralized, he went into hiding at a relative’s home.

“People were like, ‘kwani umeenda na umerudi? Umefika kweli?” he laughed, recalling the surprise of those who had seen him off.

But his time in hiding didn’t last long. Reality came knocking, literally, when his host grew frustrated with his gloomy state.

“One day, she snapped and told me to get out and look for a job like any other man. I cried. I felt like my life had come to an end,” he said, revealing he had just Sh10,000 left in his Equity account.

Determined to bounce back, Jaguar took a 10-hour bus ride to Tanzania, where renowned producer Shaky was based. He stayed at Shaky’s home and immersed himself in the music scene, determined to restart his career.

“I met with AY at the studio and introduced myself as an artiste from Kenya. Lady Jay Dee would often pass by. We became good friends,” he said. “I was their errand boy, fetching chips and small stuff. I still had the Sh10,000 and used it for my expenses to avoid embarrassment.”

Two weeks of hustling paid off, Jaguar recorded Watu na Walewe. But when he returned to Kenya and presented it to DJ Pinye, he was met with rejection.

“He flat-out dismissed it,” Jaguar said.

Still, fate wasn’t finished with him.

“One day, Lucas of Ogopa asked me, ‘You said AY is your friend?’ I said yes. So he called AY and explained who I was. To my surprise, AY remembered me and even asked where I had disappeared to. He’s a good guy,” Jaguar said.

He then sent AY a new track, Vuka Boda.

“He said he fell in love with it, laid his verse, and sent it back. When we released it, it became big,” Jaguar said with a proud smile.