Classic 105 presenter and Churchill Show founder, Daniel Ndambuki (Churchill) disclosed that he made huge financial losses after investing heavily in the Churchill Show.
The comedian, in an interview in Nairobi on Thursday, November 26, affirmed that his business has been affected by the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Citing the imposed movement restrictions and the ban of mass events, Churchill stated that he was back to square one, trying to make ends meet and recover from the loses.
"Corona ilinimaliza kabisa. (I was totally affected by the crisis. We had invested some amount of money in the production of the show. Now we can't use the gear to host 200 people at an event anymore.
"It takes us back to where we began but we remain positive. We hope the government will fully reopen the country. People want to laugh and be happy again, and you cannot do that behind a mask," Churchill revealed.
He added that despite the challenges, he shifted his content to digital platforms and was keen on creating unique content for his followers. The entrepreneur is considering to apply permits to host smaller shows for a specified number of people.
Other plans include setting up his own TV station, Churchill TV which he is hopeful about, adding that there is a lot of potential in creating content.
Often blamed for the woes of comedians who fall into depression and financial loss, Churchill admitted that he does not have an issue nurturing aspiring comedians from amateurs to professionals.
"I am happy for those who have made it like Eric Omondi and MC Jessy. We will see others more who are discovering themselves. I am like their parent and sometimes I understand that God gave me the responsibility to be part of those running the comedy industry.
"Fans are not your real family. Why tell them your issues and heap pressure on yourself yet you have your immediate family you can talk to? The fans and media have the opportunity to enjoy both your woes and artistry," he stated.
In July 2020, comedian Felix Odiwour (Jalang'o) disclosed that Churchill sacrificed to host comedians despite spending a lot of money on the event itself. Jalang’o stated that Churchill could spend Ksh 5 million on sourcing for tents and chairs and paying for events only to make Ksh 200,000 as profit.
“People see a packed audience and think he has made a lot of money. For Churchill to meet the operational cost, it would require at least 5,000 people to pay Ksh 1,000 each for tickets. Do you know that sometimes half of the crowd would attend the show for free?” he detailed, arguing that Churchill opted for radio presentation at Classic 105 to boost his income.
