Mista C Wins Kenya’s First Red Bull Turn It Up DJ Competition

What changed

Collins Sambu, known as Mista C, won Kenya’s first Red Bull Turn It Up DJ competition on October 8, 2026.

He beat Sir M, DJ Abby Muthoka and DJ Itendera in one-on-one battles built around surprise themes. The audience helped decide who advanced, making crowd connection part of the contest rather than mere background noise.

Why it matters

The competition put a demanding version of DJ craft on display. With no prepared sets, the four DJs had to choose tracks, build mixes and shift direction almost instantly. Musical knowledge mattered, but so did versatility, creativity and the ability to read a room.

That makes Mista C’s win more than a title attached to a new event. He is the inaugural Kenyan winner of a format designed to test what happens when preparation runs out and judgment takes over. The crowd’s response was part of the result, so the winning performance had to work both at the decks and in the room.

Claudia Naisabwa hosted the event, while DJ Lyta oversaw its musical side. For Kenya’s music and entertainment sector, the night gave four established DJs a platform to show different sides of their work, with Mista C leaving as the first name attached to the competition’s Kenyan chapter.