They are known to pull some of the most amazing stage performances during concerts with their well choreographed moves, matching outfits and tight vocals that leave most yearning for more. Their popular songs include Christballer's Anthem (see video below) and Ooh Aah (listen below). Meet Kelvin Bwamu, Mutua Matheka, Gibson Ndirangu and Alex Wacira, who make up the group Five-Oh-One (5:01). Why 5:01? They formed the group in 2002 while at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) where they were staying in Hall 5 Room 01. The group writes songs that have not only appealed to the young but to the old as well due to their diversity in style. They started as an acapella quartet with most if not all of its performances being at church services and small fellowships. They have explored various genres of music including rap (hip hop), reggae, R&B, accapella, swing and the local Kenyan flavor. Five oh one is a group focusing mainly on stage art, vocals and recording of music.

Five Oh One: L-R Kevo, Warle, Gibby and Muts

Since the inception of the group in 2002, quite a number of achievements have been made despite the various barriers the group has run into. That year the group enrolled in the Safaricom Star Search competition where they took the runner’s up position and this propelled them in their musical journey. "God has not only been the major mastermind of our journey but He has also been the core of 501’s existence. The songs we write are inspired by the many ups and downs of life and by the most high God," they add.

Five Oh One has had the privilege of performing at many functions including AMUAA (A Million United Against Aids) concert, Hope FM station launch, Speed Party 2004-2005, The SIMAMA concert 2007- concert for debt relief and poverty alleviation, The Extreme Weekend and The Totally Sold Out concert series among others. They currently minister, entertain and educate at concerts, churches and schools around the country.

Five Oh One

Five Oh One has a dream to own and run a music school inorder to help upcoming artistes to be able to establish themselves in the industry. Every member of the group is currently playing or learning to play an instrument. Gibson plays the piano, Kelvin and Alex have special interest in the guitar while Mutua is learning to play drums.

Their debut album titled ‘Premier’ is a double CD with a total 32 tracks. Among the artistes featuread are Dan ‘Chizi Aceda, Kiki Mutungi, Bupe Kangwa, Michelle ‘Mich-L’ Kwambo and Richard ‘Astar’ Njau among others. The debut music video Christballer's Anthem was sponsored by Good News Productions Intl.

Gibby

Gibson Ndirangu, popularly known as Gibby grew up living in the same neighbourhood as Kelvin Bwamu, refered to as Kevo. He has grown up as an army boy in barracks and went to Moi Forces Academy primary and secondary schools. While in high school, he developed his music skills as part of his studies and also part of an acapella singing group. It was also here that he and Mutua Matheka aka Muts met and started singing together. He then tried to get into the army, but they said he had flat feet so he landed in JKUAT and eventually in Five-oh-one. He now works at a civil engineering firm and still gets time to rock shows and not design falling buildings. He has this very good ear for good sound and catchy tunes and is very instrumental in music mastering and touching up.

Kevo

Kevo is the guy everybody thinks is serious but in actual sense, hardly. He had the same army childhood in barracks and being in Moi Forces Academy primary school. He then spent the rest of primary school and high school in Eldoret in Chebisas High School. He then landed in JKUAT and was Muts' roommate in Hall 5 room 01 (hence 5:01). Kevo now works with an architectural firm in Nairobi when hes not Five-Oh-One-ing. He is then one who gives some sombre tunes and brings that R&B flavour into the group. He also keeps their spiritual selfs in check, organises meetings and bookings and is the PR face of Five-Oh-One.

Warle

On to Alex Wacira commonly called Warle. He is usually the headstrong one in the group as many who have met him know. He is a born and bred Nyeri fellow and proud of it so dont even diss him about that. Went to Alliance High School and had a shortlived stint in theatrical drama acting. I guess it didn't work for him or he would have now been in Tahidi high. He then landed in JKUAT where he met the rest of the guys as they prepared for the star search performance and became part of the crew. He works in an archetectural firm in Nairobi. He is critical ear of music production as a whole in the group and puts them through gruelling reruns of recording to get it right. Alex also takes care of the music production process and with Gibby ensure that mastering is done well. He plays the guitar.

Muts

Finally to Mutua Matheka aka Muts, the group's last born. Born and bred in Machakos town and proud of it too. Muts used to sing in high school with Gibby and so it became a part of his life then. Fast forward to JKUAT and Kevo is his roommate in the room that Five-Oh-One was born, the whole story unfolds like a tale that is too coincidental but true. Mutua, being the youngest is yet to graduate from JKUAT where he is studying architecture. He's the one who brings in more of the rap and hiphop flavour into the group. Muts also does the graphic design and stage preparation for the group so anyone with ideas can call him up.