Former Redykyulass comedian Nyambane was booed and humiliated by ‘Churchill Show’ live audience at Carnivore Grounds in Nairobi on Tuesday, October 9, when he refused to take the stage and imitate how retired President Daniel Moi speaks.
Nyambane, who was seated at the VIP area, had been invited to the stage by the host, Churchill.
However, he declined to role-play Moi, who is now 94 years old.
A disappointed audience resorted to booing him, and chants of “toka, kwenda” could be heard renting the air.
An attempt by Nyambane to explain his decision fell on deaf ears, as the crowd did not want to hear any of it.
Nyambane, whose real name is Walter Mong’are, later, after the audience had calmed down, said: “Out of respect for the retired president, who – today – is not as energetic as he was nearly two decades ago, I choose not to imitate, or make fun of him.”
The dissatisfied audience was still not convinced by Nyambane’s explanation, booing and telling him: “Toka, toka”.
The Tuesday ‘Churchill Show’ recording was themed ‘Recounting the Moi Rule’ as it was held a day to Moi Day Celebrations – and the audience was disappointed that an artist, who could effectively play the Moi role, refused to do so.
Other Redykyulass members John ‘KJ’ Kiarie, who is now the Dagoretti South MP, and Tony Njuguna were not present at the Carnivore Grounds on October 9.
The Nyambane drama moment lasted around 15 minutes before calm was restored.
Host Churchill made light of the situation, when he took the stage and asked the audience: “Hata mimi niki-retire, and you request me to relive my old days as a comedian; and I refuse, mtanifanyia hivyo?”
“Yes!” the crowd responded unanimously.
An already ego-punctured Nyambane could not sit through the entire recording, which lasts more than two hours, deciding to leave the venue 30 minutes after being humiliated.
A middle-aged woman, who was part of the audience, was saddened by what played out at the Churchill event.
“That was really bad; the crowd shouldn’t have shouted at him [Nyambane]. That was disheartening, and it was not fair. He came there as an audience and not a performer,” said the woman, who sought anonymity.
Nyambane, who previously held director of communications roles in Kisii and Nairobi County, is currently the liaison officer for the youth in Jubilee Party.
Nyambane was given the job by President Uhuru Kenyatta in March, 2017.