Reuben Aden Ochieng known in the entertainment circles as DJ Ruby, gives off a calm demeanor, different from one you would expect the King of Nakuru’s night life to exhibit.

For him, this is a career that he stumbled into.

“I was performing at Rafikiz club as a salsa dancer some years back when the music being played caught my attention. I interacted briefly with the DJ and told him I would love to learn and luckily he agreed to teach me,” he recalls.

At this time, he was a third-year student, at JKUAT taking a bachelor’s degree in Information Technology. While in school he used to tutor salsa dances and perform in events.

During his free time, Ruby would go through a training session with his mentor DJ Luvydee.

In 2015 he had a shift in his career from a salsa tutor/dancer to Deejaying.

As fate would have it, Ruby had his first gig at Rafikiz Club, the same place where his love for this craft was first stirred.

The 29-year-old notes that his mother was taken aback when his uncle who had seen him performing at the club told her that Ruby was a performing DJ.

“My mom Is religious and so she was a bit hesitant about me going down this path. However, she changed her tune when I started supporting myself while in school and later on in life,” Ruby States.

As time went by, he was made a resident DJ at Rafikiz and this opened up his career.

DJ Ruby at one of his shows. He won best DJ in Nakuru at the NCMD awards

Photo credit: COURTESY

Now seven years in the game, Ruby admits that this field has undergone tremendous change.

“It is no longer being viewed as just a hobby like years back. People make a living out of this without depending on any other source of income, “he says.

On a good day, Ruby makes up to Sh 50,000 per event.

He recently won the best DJ of the year award at Nakuru City Mums and Dads Awards 2022/2023.

His main aim is to make the DJ profession more favorable for the people who will come after him.

He advices upcoming creatives to utilize social media tools to market their brands so as to remain relevant in this competitive industry.

When asked whether it is true that DJs are promiscuous, Ruby says he is there for the job.

“I see myself as a doctor who treats revelers with good music,” he says.

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DJ Ruby: From an IT Student To a DJ

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