Veteran comedian Walter Mong'are has done countless interviews where he talks about his work at The Office of The President.
However, he revealed for the first time on Tuesday, November 17, that President Uhuru Kenyatta made him drop his nickname Nyambane after he was appointed as Director of Youth Affairs in 2017. The stage name stuck from the popular comedy show Redykyulass which ran in the early 2000s.
“When the President gave me the responsibility to be in charge of youth in his office, he actually said ‘I will no longer call you Nyambane, now you are Walter’,” the former Kiss 100 radio host recalled.
When Uhuru announced the decision to appoint Mong’are, he stated “Sasa nataka huyu kijana Nyambane mimi mnipatie. Sasa mambo ya entertainment amewacha, akuje aungane na mimi kwa serikali tufanye mambo ya kuwatafutia kazi. (I want to work with this young man Nyambane. He will no longer be entertaining you but helping me create jobs for young people).”
The State House staffer now goes by the name Walter Mong'are Senior because he named his son after himself.
He explained that the switch from the comedy and media industry was not difficult since it was gradual.
Mong’are had worked in Kisii as the Director of Communications under Governor James Ong’wae in 2013 before shifting base to Nairobi under former Governor Evans Kidero from where Kenyatta poached him.
The youth affairs director stated that although he was no longer doing comedy, he was still a fun person in his duties. "You don't have to be funny for meetings to be fun," he said.
The Lenana School alumnus added that President Kenyatta enjoys the company and input of creative people.
Giving the example of State House Chief of Staff Nzioka Waita, Mong’are revealed that unknown to many, the former Safaricom executive is also an expert graphic designer.
Kenyans have also noted that President Kenyatta also appreciates creativity in the form of shirts which he proudly wears to promote the Buy Kenyan Build Kenya policy.
As a testament, the head of state’s official DJ, Euphorique and Thomas Kwaka popularly known as Big Ted, are some of the youthful creative people who work with him.
Speaking about his past life in Redykyulass, Mong’are revealed that the trio (Walter Mong’are, John Kiarie and Tony Njuguna) was talented in music and would help Eric Wainanina in some of his projects.
Watch Walter Mong'are narrate landing a job in Uhuru's office.
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