Willy Paul is a gospel musical prodigy who turned secular hitmaker practically overnight. He spent over a decade as one of the country’s most streamed and most controversial musicians. He built a career on a genre-blending pop records that dominated East African radio, even as a string of relationship scandals repeatedly pulled him into the headlines. Only a few Kenyan artists have managed to stay this relevant, and this talked-about, for this long.
| Date of Birth | September 1, 1993 |
|---|---|
| Age | 33 years |
| Nationality | Kenyan |
| Zodiac Sign | Virgo |
| Occupation | Musician, Songwriter |
| Net Worth | $300,000 – $400,000 (estimated) |
| Real Name | Wilson Abubakar Radido |
| Company | Saldido International Entertainment |
| Notable Songs | Sitolia, Lenga, I Do |
| Children | King Damian, Sonya Radido |
| Years Active | 2010-present |
| Birthplace | Mathare, Nairobi, Kenya |
| Zodiac Sign | Virgo |
| Ethnicity | Kenyan, of Ugandan and Tanzanian descent |
| Marital Status | Not married; publicly linked to Ikoh Roz (unconfirmed) |
| Parents | Paul Radido (father, carpenter, died 2011), Salome Radido (mother, hairdresser) |
| Siblings | Reportedly the last-born of four children (three brothers, one sister) |
Biography
Willy Paul was born Wilson Abubakar Radido on September 1, 1993, and grew up in Mathare, one of Nairobi’s densely populated informal settlements. His father, Paul Radido, worked as a carpenter and was of Ugandan descent, while his mother, Salome Radido, worked as a hairdresser and traced her roots to Tanzania, giving Willy Paul a distinctly East African family background that he has occasionally referenced in interviews.
He is commonly described as the last-born of four children, with three older brothers and a sister, though he has said little about his siblings publicly and none of them have a significant media profile of their own.
Life in Mathare exposed him early to the hustle culture that shapes much of Nairobi’s music scene, and it was there that he began experimenting with singing and songwriting as a teenager. His father died in 2011, a loss that plunged the family into financial hardship and forced Willy Paul to drop out of school and take on informal jobs to help support his mother and siblings.
He entered the music industry through gospel, a common route for Kenyan artists looking to build an initial audience through church networks and gospel radio stations. His move out of gospel and into secular music later became one of the more debated pivots in Kenyan pop culture, drawing criticism from some corners of the church while opening up a much larger commercial audience for him.
Career
Willy Paul’s breakthrough came with his 2010 debut single “Sitolia,” a song originally recorded with his mentor, gospel singer Gloria Muliro. That song introduced his ability to blend melodic hooks with danceable rhythms and quickly made him a name to watch.
The song’s success later got tangled in a royalties dispute between the two, but it remains the record most credited with launching his career.
He followed that with a run of hits including “Lenga” and “I Do,” singles that helped define his sound as a mix of gospel sensibility and secular pop appeal.
That blend became his signature, and it is a large part of why his crossover, unlike some of his peers, never felt like a complete reinvention.
Over the years, he has continued to release full-length projects alongside singles, including his album “Songs of Solomon.”
Speaking with Switch TV about that project, Willy Paul described the recording process as smooth and said everyone involved, from his dancers to his production team, delivered exactly what the album needed.
He runs his own outfit, Saldido International Entertainment, through which he manages his own music business and has signed a small roster of acts over the years, including Klons, Dice B and Miss Picasah.
His third studio album, “Beyond Gifted,” arrived in April 2024 with 14 tracks blending Afropop, Bongo Flava and dancehall, and featured guest turns from Tanzanian star Diamond Platnumz, Jamaican vocalists Alaine and Denique, and Nigerian rapper Skales.
Speaking with Trace FM about the project, Willy Paul said he is deliberate about who he collaborates with, describing himself as protective of his brand and unwilling to feature guests without a clear plan behind the pairing.
He kept up a steady release schedule through 2025 and into 2026, putting out singles including “Hii Design,” “Ngunga,” “Ahere,” “My Lady,” “Better” and “Inabamba” in 2025, followed by “Dress Code,” “Mapenzi Yananiua,” “Mkono Wako,” “Kangaroo/Komasava” and “PM” in 2026.
In May 2026, he publicly questioned why he was left off the lineup for Nairobi’s high-profile Africa Forward Summit concert, telling fans on Instagram that he would have “represented Kenya in a way history would remember,” a post that drew mixed reactions from followers.
Willy Paul’s staying power in a competitive industry comes down largely to consistency. Even as newer Kenyan artists have emerged, he has continued to land radio play, streaming numbers and festival bookings that keep him among the country’s most recognisable musical names, a longevity that few of his early-2010s peers have matched.
Controversies
Willy Paul’s personal life has generated almost as much coverage as his music, much of it tied to serious allegations from women who have publicly accused him of misconduct.
His former partner Michelle Dyer has said he was controlling and, at times, physically abusive during their relationship, an allegation he has publicly disputed. Diana Bahati, wife of fellow musician Bahati, has separately accused Willy Paul of attempting to sexually assault her, an allegation he has denied and that has never resulted in a criminal conviction, though it fuelled a public feud between the two men for years.
A more complicated case involves Miss P, also known as Miss Picasah, a former Saldido Records signee and one-time girlfriend who publicly accused Willy Paul of sexually assaulting her after she left the label.
In an April 2023 interview, Miss P recanted the allegation, saying the encounters had been consensual and that bitterness and anger had driven her to make the original claim. Willy Paul chose not to pursue legal action against her, and the two briefly reconciled, with Willy Paul even announcing plans to marry her in May 2023, before the relationship ended again later that year.
Willy Paul’s long-running feud with Bahati eased somewhat in November 2024, when he posted an apology on Instagram acknowledging that he had “crossed boundaries” by dragging Bahati’s family, including the couple’s children, into their public back-and-forth. Bahati publicly accepted the apology, and the two later released collaborative singles together in early 2025.
That reconciliation addressed the conduct of their public feud rather than the underlying assault allegation itself, which Willy Paul continues to deny, so the accusation remains part of his record even as the personal rift with Bahati has cooled.
Willy Paul has also drawn scrutiny over other incidents in recent years. He was arrested in March 2024 over a hit-and-run allegation involving a pedestrian near his home in Syokimau, though no update on formal charges or a resolution has been reported since.
In late 2024, he clashed publicly with Diamond Platnumz’s team backstage at the Furaha City Festival in Nairobi over their performance schedule, an altercation that reportedly turned physical and ended with Diamond leaving the venue without performing.
Personal Life
Willy Paul has not confirmed being legally married as of the most recent reporting. His most talked-about relationship in 2026 has been with content creator and actress Ikoh Roz, a pairing marked by an on-again, off-again public narrative rather than a settled status.
The two announced a breakup in March 2026, reconciled with a public apology days later, then shared kissing photos of Ikoh Roz in a wedding gown in April 2026 that fuelled marriage speculation, before Ikoh Roz told an interviewer in August 2026 that they had never actually been a couple and that fans had misread interactions tied to her work as a content creator.
Willy Paul is a father to two children from different mothers, a son named King Damian and a daughter named Sonya, born in December 2020, though he has not publicly named either child’s mother.
He has generally kept the details of his family life more private than his romantic entanglements, which tend to surface through his exes and public social media posts rather than his own direct disclosures.
Despite the controversies attached to his name, Willy Paul remains a fixture at Kenyan awards shows, concerts and collaborations, and he has continued to grow his social media following.
Net Worth
Willy Paul’s net worth, given his actual, traceable income sources, streaming royalties, live performance fees, and revenue from Saldido International Entertainment, a more grounded estimate would place his net worth somewhere between $300,000 and $400,000.
Beyond music, Willy Paul has branched into hospitality, running a liquor store and pub in the Mirema area of Nairobi, a venture that made news in October 2025 when it was broken into and vandalised, with merchandise stolen and property damaged.
He has also taken on brand ambassador work in the past, including a deal with an alcohol brand, and he has been photographed with newly bought vehicles over the years, including a Mercedes-Benz and a Range Rover, though neither purchase price has been publicly disclosed.
That combination points to a musician who has sustained a long, commercially successful career without the international touring deals or major global endorsements that push some African artists into eight-figure territory.
Willy Paul’s wealth is built primarily on his continued relevance in the Kenyan and East African markets, his own label and now a small hospitality business, rather than any single blockbuster deal, which suggests slow, steady growth is more likely than a sudden leap for his finances going forward.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Willy Paul’s real name?
Willy Paul was born Wilson Abubakar Radido on September 1, 1993, in the Mathare area of Nairobi, Kenya.
Is Willy Paul married?
No, Willy Paul has not confirmed a legal marriage as of the most recent reporting. His relationship with content creator Ikoh Roz has been the subject of ongoing public speculation through 2026, but its status remains unresolved.
How many children does Willy Paul have?
Willy Paul has two children from different mothers, a son named King Damian and a daughter named Sonya, born in December 2020. He has not publicly named either child’s mother.
What happened between Willy Paul and Diana Bahati?
Diana Bahati, wife of musician Bahati, publicly accused Willy Paul of attempting to sexually assault her, an allegation he has denied and that never resulted in a criminal conviction. The dispute fuelled years of public feuding between Willy Paul and Bahati before the two reconciled in late 2024 and went on to release music together in 2025.
Did Miss P retract her allegations against Willy Paul?
Yes. Miss P, a former Saldido Records signee who had accused Willy Paul of sexual assault, said in an April 2023 interview that the encounters had actually been consensual and that anger and bitterness had driven her original claim. The two briefly reconciled afterward before separating again later that year.
What record label is Willy Paul signed to?
Willy Paul is not signed to a major label. He runs his own outfit, Saldido International Entertainment, through which he releases his own music and manages a small roster of signed acts.
What is Willy Paul’s net worth?
Willy Paul’s net worth is estimated at somewhere between $300,000 and $400,000, built from streaming royalties, live performance fees, his Saldido label and a Nairobi liquor and hospitality business, rather than any single major deal.
What is Willy Paul’s zodiac sign?
Willy Paul was born on September 1, making him a Virgo.
More Musicians, Singers, and Rappers
More Kenyan Celebrities
More Virgo Celebrities
Related Articles
Top 10 Richest Musicians in Nigeria Ranked by Net Worth 2025
Top 10 Richest African Musicians in 2025
List of Nollywood Celebrities turned Pastors
Avengers: Doomsday (2026) Cast Net Worth: 20 Stars Ranked From Lowest to Highest
Top 5 Finest Nigerian Celebrity Wives
Top Globally Recognized Nigerian Artists
Everything You Need To Know About The Sidemen Charity Match As It Returns to Wembley