Peter Kigia

Nickname	Wa Esther
Full name	Peter Kigia

Peter Kigia (born in Gatanga, Murang'a County) is an acclaimed Kenyan Benga musician, bandleader, and straight-talking lyricist, affectionately known to his massive fanbase as Wa Esther. Performing alongside his iconic Chania River Boys band, he rose to prominence by introducing an unvarnished, direct style of lyricism that confronted relationship issues, heartbreaks, and marital challenges without sugarcoating reality. Kigia revolutionized modern Kikuyu social commentary with timeless anthems like "Reke Tumanwo" (Let’s Separate), subverting typical romantic pop tropes to address domestic realism. Beyond relationship dynamics, he progressively used his musical platform as an educational tool, courageously tackling critical public health issues like the HIV/AIDS epidemic head-on during an era of heavy societal stigma. He is celebrated as an uncompromising artist who modernized the Benga genre while maintaining a sharp, fearless focus on the daily social realities of his listeners.