Kasmuel McOure is the charismatic 26-year-old who gained popularity as an activist during maandamanos for his eloquent and well-spoken stance on anti-government matters.
Often referred to as the freedom fighter Tom Mboya of our time, McOure never seems to run out of freshly pressed suits and always has his freshly coiffed afro. His bold efforts have even attracted threats against his life.
But during the recent Nane Nane Protests, McOure put on a show, outpacing police officers with such speed that he could have given Omanyala a run for his money.
Here are 5 facts you need to know about Kasmuel McOure.
- Attended Two National Schools
Kasmuel McOure initially attended Alliance High School. The culture shock at the prestigious school was too much for Kasmuel, who hails from a poor background. He felt insignificant in his secondhand uniforms compared to the other sharply dressed students in their new uniforms.
Kasmuel McOure, who was bullied and sexually assaulted as a kid, became depressed and even attempted suicide multiple times.
However, he was expelled and, after staying home for over a year, was fortunate enough to be admitted to Maranda Boys High School. It was here that he focused on his studies and excelled, scoring an A- in his KCSE.
And this secured him a position at the Technical University of Kenya to study Finance.
2. Why Always in Suits?
Kasmuel McOure is always in suits; he says you can only catch him in a formal suit or his birthday suit.
Why is this? McOure is always sharply dressed to make up for his younger years when he was so poor that the only clothes he could wear were baggy.
“I grew up wearing very horrible clothes, and I said the moment I am able to afford it, I would wear suits. This is revenge; I am dying for this. And I have worn suits. Even on campus, I was just patching them up.” he told Oga Obinna.
“There are very horrible photos of me out there, and people have resurrected the videos. When I was growing up, I had either very baggy shirts or shorts. Suits, to me, looked like the epitome; they looked like the thing I wanted to wear,”
3. Musician
Also known as Kaskazini, McOure, grew up to be the founder and director of Maskani Big Band.
Additionally, Kasmuel plays 12 instruments, which he says he learned to play while attending Alliance High School.
4. Political Ambitions
Kasmuel McOure intends to vie for a political seat come the 2027 elections. While it is not clear which seat he will be running for, it is clear that McOure will not be affiliated with any political party.
“It’s time for the so-called good men to step up. I’m planning to run for an elective position—whether it will be in Nairobi or somewhere else in Kenya, we’ll figure that out later. He said.
“Right now, while the political class is busy with their campaigns, we’re focusing on pushing for real change. This is not a sudden decision for me.”
5. He is in a Relationship
The charismatic McOure dashed the hopes of many Kenyan single ladies after revealing that he is in a relationship.
However, activism has taken a toll on his relationship because now, his schedule “has gotten way busier, and we can not hang out as much as we used to. But we’re still committed to making it work. Relationships take effort from both sides, after all.”
McOure pledged his loyalty to his girlfriend, whom he described as “my rock through all of this, and I’m not about to throw that away just because things are changing. What we have is too valuable to trade for any fleeting gains.”
By Vivian K.