Claudia Naisabwa | |
|---|---|
 Claudia Naisabwa in 2025 | |
| Born | September 4, 2002 |
| Alma mater | Daystar University |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 2021–present |
Claudia Naisabwa (born September 4, 2002) is a Kenyan media personality, actress, singer, and events host. She has presented programs on Nation FM and NTV Kenya, hosted the Showmax reality series Take Me Home, and served as master of ceremonies for events across Africa, including 9th edition of AFRIMA in Lagos Nigeria.
Naisabwa was born on September 4, 2002, in Kenya and is a member of the Samburu community. [1] She attended Daystar University, where she studied communication from 2018 to 2022.
Naisabwa began her media career in 2021 at SPM Buzz, an online media outlet. [2] She joined KTN Kenya later that year, where she hosted the programs Str8up and Iwake Show. [3] She departed from KTN in January 2024, marking her third anniversary in media.
In 2024, she moved to Nation FM, co-hosting the mid-morning show Vibe Shift with Brian Aseli. [4] In 2025, she transitioned to TV47 and NTV Kenya, co-hosting Friday Night Rave on NTV, a late-night entertainment program featuring music and celebrity interviews. [5]
In 2025, she hosted the second season of the Showmax reality series Take Me Home. [6]
Naisabwa has hosted over 100 events throughout her career. [1] Notable events include Miss Universe Kenya (2024), Miss World Kenya (2022), the Pulse Music Video Awards (2021, 2022), People's Choice Awards Kenya (2022, 2023), and the Talanta Hela launch at State House with President William Ruto (2023). [1] She has also hosted the YouthConnekt Africa Summit (2023) and the Nairobi Festival (2023).
In November 2025, she embarked on a multi-country tour with stops in Arusha Tanzania, Kampala, Uganda for the Don Julio Cantina Fiesta, Nigeria for the 9th AFRIMA in Lagos, and Cape Town, South Africa for the inaugural WAV Festival. [7]
Naisabwa appeared in the 2024 music video for Rayvanny's song "Down". [1] As a singer and songwriter, she has collaborated with artists including Kash Pleen and Shuajo Blake.
In 2024, Naisabwa launched the CN Initiative, through which she conducts workshops on mental health, body positivity, and creative entrepreneurship for young women in Kenya, reaching over 500 participants in Nairobi and Mombasa. [8] She has advocated against teenage pregnancy and served as an ambassador for International Youth Week in 2023. In 2025, she discussed her experiences with burnout and isolation in media interviews. [8]
Scholars and journalists have described Claudia Naisabwa as arguably “the last pop superstar" of the Gen Z era from East Africa.
Her innovative approach to the mainstream music industry has established her reputation as a savvy businesswoman, particularly through the remixes of her dance challenge videos on Tik Tok, which reflect emerging trends in music marketing, by strategically placing such music within her lifestyle reels and carousels on Instagram and Snapchat.
Naisabwa's work in event hosting and hyping has contributed to the increased visibility of Afrobeats, Bongo Flava and Amapiano genres outside Africa, reaching adolescent female audiences, a demographic previously underrepresented in these styles.
In 2024, she toured the United Kingdom alongside Tanzanian artist Rayvanny during which her choice of denim wear and crop tops was noted by fashion police critics for coinciding with rising sales of similar clothing merchandise among women, a phenomenon referred to as the "Claudia Naisabwa Force".
Her dynamic presence across radio, television, digital platforms, commercial endorsements, and live events has been seen as a catalyst in the rise of poptimism, with her career transitions influencing a new wave of digital marketing programming.
During and following the COVID-19 era, Naisabwa's public image drew significant commentary, with tabloids portraying her as "Kenya’s vibes ambassador" and a "media darling." Her approachable, girl-next-door demeanor, marked by polite interactions and open-hearted conversations projected a distinctly feminine yet restrained persona, distinguishing her from contemporaries often associated with more aggressively sexualized and expressive styling. This modest, subtle, and sophisticated appeal formed the core of her relatability.
She gained early prominence through makeup tutorials and live Facebook and Instagram short videos addressing adolescent themes, elements that solidified her status as a teen idol among young audiences. As Naisabwa recalibrated her career toward fashion, sports, content creation, entertainment, and broader media roles, her popularity transcended traditional confine across genres, eras, demographics, paradigms, and trends.
Her enduring appeal, especially among the “cool kids” audiences, has positioned her as an emblem of her generation's zeitgeist. Brian Muhumuza Bishanga, editor-at-large at BM Publications, made a reference that Claudia’s virality stems from "manipulation of both the industry and [her] personal brand" via strategic controversies and privacy management, adding that her narrative reflects key tensions in early twenty-first-century African setting. Muhumuza further noted that discussions of her rising impact often draw comparisons not only to peers but also to established figures in the industry such as Gayle King, Porsha Williams, Khanyi Mbau, Toke Makinwa, and Bonang Matheba.
| Year | Award | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | People's Choice Awards Kenya | Best Female MC | Won |
| 2023 | Africa Women Awards | Outstanding TV Personality | Won |
| 2023 | Pulse Influencer Awards | Media Blogger | Nominated |
| 2023 | Tamasha Awards | Fashion Influencer of the Year | Won |
| 2024 | Pulse Influencer Awards | Africa's Most Influential Fashionista | Won |
| 2024 | TUKO Entertainment Awards | Most Fashionable Celebrity | Won |
| 2024 | East Africa Awards | Media Personality of the Year | Won |
| 2024 | East Africa Awards | Events Excellence Brand of the Year | Won |
| 2025 | Grand Fashion Awards Kenya | Most Fashionable Female MC | Won |
| 2026 | Forty Under 40 Awards Africa | Journalism | Nominated |