Kleptomaniax

Kleptomaniax are a Kenyan pop group. The group consists of three members: Roba (Robert Manyasa), Collo (Collins Majale) and Nyashinski (Nyamari Ongegu).

Kleptomaniax were formed in 1999, when they were still high school students at the Nairobi School. The group joined the Ogopa DJ's label and released their first single, "Freak it" in 2002 and was followed by "Maniax Anthem" and "Haree". In 2004 the group released another single "Tuendelee", which became their biggest hit so far. The song was written as a response for the "Diss track" by various hip hop musician (including Bamboo), who criticised the commercial Kapuka music style performed by Kleptomaniax among others. The hard hitting lyrics of the song saw the Kleptomaniax establish themselves as one of the biggest hip hop acts from Kenya.

Their debut album M4E (an abbreviation for Maniax for ever) was released in 2005. Later that year the group received a MTV Europe Music Awards nomination for the Best African Act, a category awarded for the first time, but won by 2 face Idibia from Nigeria. In 2007 Kleptomaniax toured the USA.

After 2007 the group had a break while their members engaged isolo projects. The group has since made comeback, but have left Ogopa DJ's. The group is set to release their second album NITT (Now Is The Time) in 2009.

Awards
2002 Chat Awards - Favourite Male Group [5]
2003 Chat Awards - Favourite Male Group [5]
2005 Kisima Music Awards - Best Group

Nominations
2005 MTV Europe Music Awards - Best African Act
2005 Kora Awards - Best Group from Eastern Africa [6]
2006 Tanzania Music Awards - Best East African Album ("M4E")[7].
2008 Kisima Music Awards - Video of the Year ("Magnetic") [8]
2008 Pearl of Africa Music Awards - Best Kenyan Group [9]