Mesh HolyKid: Meet Trans Nzoia Man Fighting Albinism Stigma Using Music
- Some of the challenges faced by persons with albinism in Kenya are those that Meshack Sisenda Wekesa, alias Mesh HolyKid, experienced at a young age
- It was from this experience that Mesh HolyKid resolved to venture into a music career, primarily to address the stigma around albinism
- He does his advocacy work using music, hoping that it will one day bring an end to the myths and misconceptions about persons with albinism
If resilience were a person, it would be Meshack Sisenda Wekesa, a man with albinism from Bidii ward in Kwanza constituency, Trans Nzoia county.
Source: Original
The 25-year-old is an advocate for the rights of people with disabilities and inclusion. He achieves this through music.
Inspiration behind Mesh HolyKid's albinism stigma fight
In an exclusive interview with TUKO.co.ke, Sisenda, famously known by his stage name Mesh HolyKid, said that after completing his secondary education, he fought the harsh realities of the entertainment industry, which weighed heavily on him.
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"As a person with albinism, I faced not only the struggles of daily life but also the myths, the misconceptions, and the stigma. I knew I had to speak out, to raise awareness. So, together with a close friend of mine, a visually impaired individual, I wrote and recorded my song titled Albinism in 2019," Mesh HolyKid said.
The song sought to challenge the myths surrounding their condition and highlight the reality of living with albinism.
He said the song was his personal and powerful message to Kenyans and the rest of the world, sharing the struggles that people with albinism face in their day-to-day lives.
The soft-spoken 2024 Tangaza University journalism graduate said his music career rose to stardom in June 2021 when his albinism song was featured on a national TV station.
“That moment was a turning point. It cemented my resolve to use my music as a tool for advocacy, to raise awareness about Albinism, and to speak out for persons with disabilities. Since then, I’ve made it my mission to ensure that my voice is heard, not just in the music world, but in the fight for equality and inclusion," he said.
The singer has, however, had his fair share of challenges in his career and advocacy work.
He recalls being conned by a music producer who promised to help him with one of his projects. Getting an opportunity to perform has also been another challenge for him.
“Event organisers often focus on my disability, seeing it as a limitation rather than a part of who I am. Some doubt my abilities, and it is disheartening," Sisenda said.
Despite these challenges, the singer is determined to break imaginable barriers and change perceptions about albinism and disabilities in general.
Source: Original
The upcoming artist, who has so far recorded two solo songs and five collaborations, believes that he can use music to change the world.
“As I continue to navigate my path in music and activism, I know that the road ahead will not always be smooth. But with my music, my voice, and my clear message, I will keep pushing forward. In my Tuko Sawa (We Are Equal) project, I carry the message that nobody should be excluded,” he told TUKO.co.ke.
According to the singer, the project, which combines music with spoken word, is not only a song or performance but also a reflection of his journey, struggles, and triumphs in the challenging industry.
How Mesh HolyKid started his music career
Mesh HolyKid discovered his passion in 2017 when he used to write and perform songs by his mentor, Eko Dydda. He then started recording himself during the holidays. His debut song, titled 'Yahweh', was recorded in December 2017, with the support of his mother, Caro Wasike.
“I played both roles as his father and mother. I stood up for him, his brother, and his sister. From the day Mesh came into my life, I saw something very unique in him, and I supported his music career. By the way, I am his number one fan,” Caro told TUKO.co.ke.
The young singer was one of the 58 Digital Democracy Fellows in the 2024 cohort of the Constitution and Reform Education Consortium (CRECO) fellowship.
He said the fellowship empowered him to use digital tools to advance the rights and interests of people with disabilities in society.
Mesh HolyKid has won several awards for his advocacy work. He was named the best dancer at the Uhai Festival in 2021 and won the Western Region Gospel Music Awards Differently Abled Personality in 2024.
Source: Original
He is also one of the nominees for the 2025 Sifa Talents Awards in the Differently Abled Personality category.
“To those who believe in the myth that albinism is a curse, I want them to know that the difference between people with albinism and those without is the absence of melanin that gives the skin its colour, but we are all equal,” Mesh HolyKid said.
According to the 2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census report, there were 9,729 persons with albinism in Kenya. This was the first time albinism was included in the census.
Are Kenyan government digital services disability-friendly?
TUKO.co.ke previously reported that the government had pledged to ensure all its digital services were fully accessible to persons with disabilities by 2027.
ICT Cabinet Secretary William Kabogo said making digital services disability-friendly was not negotiable.
The government has been deepening its digital footprint through the eCitizen platform, which hosts over 33,000 government services.
Proofreading by Mercy Nyambura, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
Joshua Cheloti (Editorial assistant) Joshua Cheloti is a multi-skilled journalist with over 5 years of experience in the media industry. He holds a Diploma in Journalism and Mass Communication and is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Media and Communication at Mount Kenya University. At TUKO, he's an editorial assistant. Before TUKO, he worked at Nairobi Review as an editorial writer, at Hope Media (Hope TV and Hope FM) as a correspondent in Eldoret, Hivisasa.com digital content editor and online writer, at Biblia Husema Broadcasting (BHB), Eldoret as Radio Presenter. Email: Joshua.cheloti@tuko.co.ke
Emanuel Tarus I am professional multi-media journalist with eight years experience as a field-based correspondent. Integrity, objectivity and adherence to ethical standards are my guiding principles in journalism. I am based in Trans Nzoia county and very passionate about gender, crime, environment and climate change reporting. I am also interested in health, human interest, development, leadership and governance beats. In the future, I would like to specialize in diplomacy and geopolitics reporting to expand my reporting scope.
