There are concerts you attend for the music, and then there are events that take you back through your own life.
Capital FM’s 30th anniversary celebration at The Stables, Magnate City, in Limuru gave me both.
The venue set the mood from the moment I arrived.
The Stables sits on an expansive farm, with plenty of open space and a sense of calm that made the event feel like a day out as much as a concert.
There was room to move, meet people, take in the surroundings and settle into the music as the afternoon turned into evening.
The crowd added to that feeling. People were dressed for a special occasion and happy to capture the performances on their phones, including some very expensive ones.
I felt safe, and the atmosphere remained relaxed and respectful.
There were no unruly moments to distract from the music or the reason we had come together.
Capital had set out to celebrate 30 years through music from three eras: The Pioneers, Culture Shapers and The Next Flow.
The line-up brought together artists and DJs from across those chapters, including Juacali, Sanaipei Tande, Gravitti Band and Necessary Noize; Juliani, Fena, Femi One and Daddy Owen; and a newer generation represented by Serro, Njerae, Bensoul and Charisma. DJ Krowbar, DJ Adrian, DJ Joe Mfalme, DJ UV, DJ Pikachu, DJ Schwaz and DJ Kdeja were also on the bill.
It was a reminder of how many sounds and styles have found space on Kenyan stages and on Capital’s airwaves.
My highlight was Juliani. He came on with the kind of energy that makes it hard to stay still, but it was his performance of Sitasimama that stayed with me.
As he sang about standing against the evils of leadership, the mood shifted.
DJ Joe Mfalme also did exceptionally well.
I know him as a former colleague, so watching him take charge of the decks brought a personal touch to the day.
He understands how to work with a crowd, keep the momentum going and move between different sounds without losing the connection with people.
His set helped make the celebration feel like one long conversation between the music and the audience.
For me, though, the event was never only about who performed. Capital FM is part of my own story.
The station gave me an opportunity at a time when I had not yet graduated.
I joined as an intern, and the opportunity later grew into a career.
I was confirmed and eventually rose to become a senior reporter in charge of the Crime and Investigations Desk.
That journey opened doors I will always be grateful for.
I travelled far and wide because of Capital, met people who became part of my professional network and gained the exposure that helped shape my work.
Those experiences became part of my biggest wealth, not something measured in money, but in relationships, knowledge and the confidence to keep building.
Y News was born from that foundation.
The experience I gained at Capital helped prepare me for the work of creating a media platform of my own.
So, as I watched the anniversary celebration unfold, I felt proud of the company that had trusted me, invested in me and given me room to grow.
Capital FM began broadcasting in 1996 as Kenya’s first privately owned FM station.
Thirty years on, its anniversary gathered generations of artists, DJs, staff, former colleagues and listeners in one place.
I left Limuru genuinely happy for Capital and grateful for the role it played in my life.
