Shari Martin

Shari Martin was a Kenyan gospel musician who rose to prominence in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He was often backed by the Tana River Gospel Singers. Before his music career, he worked in the hotel industry as a chef for approximately 35 years. His breakthrough hit, "Rafiki Pesa" ("Friendship Money"), was released in 1998 and critiqued materialism and human relationships. The song became a defining track in his catalog. Other songs in his discography include "Wanadamu Ni Waongo," "Yesu Ndio Commando," "Mambo Ya Dunia," "Tangazo La Ajabu," "Nimekutambua Shetani," "Mtoto wa Jirani," and "Back To My Church." Shari Martin passed away on August 2, 2024, at the age of 54 at Kenyatta National Hospital following a battle with pneumonia.