In an emotional interview with Betty Kyallo on TV47, Brenda, the partner of popular recording artist Stevo Simple Boy, has shed light on the stark contrast between his public persona and his private struggles. While many Kenyans admire Stevo as a successful artist with numerous brand deals, Brenda's personal experience, particularly her first visit to his home, revealed a shocking reality: the artist was being severely exploited by the very people who were supposed to be managing his career.
Brenda’s first visit to Stevo’s residence was a moment of stark realization. She admitted to being so surprised by his living conditions that she initially wondered if he had another, better home that he was hiding from her. “Venye niliingia for the first day kwa nyumba ya Stevo nilishangaa hadi nikajiuliza kama ako na nyumba ingine separate... but kumbe ilikuwa ni hiyo real,” she recounted, a moment that exposed the painful truth of his situation.
Despite his public fame and thriving career, Brenda discovered that Stevo "had nothing." She explained that while brands did pay him for his services, the people around him—his management—were allegedly taking all his earnings, failing to leave him even a small percentage. This exploitation, she said, was a direct result of their greed and a complete disregard for the artist’s well-being.
Moved by his situation, Brenda made a courageous decision to help him. She expressed her willingness to support him because she saw that he was a "hard-working person" who had been "misused" by those he trusted. The management, she revealed, even tried to create a conflict between her and Stevo’s family to ensure their continued control and exploitation.
Brenda stood her ground and supported Stevo in removing the management, who had access to all of his bank accounts. In a shocking revelation, after their departure, Stevo checked his account and found a mere 18 Kenyan shillings. This heartbreaking discovery meant they had to start "afresh" and rebuild his finances from scratch.
Today, Brenda states that things are better and that they are progressing well, hoping to continue on this positive path. Her intervention highlights the immense vulnerabilities that artists can face behind the scenes, despite public perception of their success.
