The Redykyulass crew is largely regarded as the godfathers of modern stand-up comedy in Kenya who paved the way - directly and indirectly to the current stars.
Formed in the early 2000s, the show was the brainchild of two Kenyatta University students and an administrator at the institution.
At the time, Walter Mong'are and John Kiarie were studying their first degree when they partnered with the then-junior staffer Tony Njuguna to start a comedy show, which would mimic the then Head of State, Daniel Arap Moi. The move was considered both bold and daring, as the president was not one to joke around.
What started as a three-man crew grew in number and was embraced by Kenyans. However, after nearly 10 years
Kenyans.co.ke traced the members of the crew and what they are currently up to and came up with the following:
Walter Mong'are
Popularly known by his stage name, Nyambane, Mong'are gained popularity with his nearly perfect mimicking of Moi in the comic show.
Nyambane's successful career in comedy landed him a job opportunity at Kiss 100, where he hosted a morning show alongside renowned radio presenter, Caroline Mutuko.
Mongare then joined the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) as the Head of Radio, where he was in charge of 16 state-owned radio stations. While at KBC, the Kisii County Governor poached him and made him the county's Director of Communication.
His performance at the Kisii devolved unit attracted the former Nairobi City County governor, Evans Kidero, who appointed him in the same role at City Hall. However, he received his best job offer yet in the most unlikely places.
While on a tour of Kisii County in 2017, President Uhuru Kenyatta asked him to join his team as the Deputy Director for Youth Programs (liaison) at State House. He has served in the capacity for three years until his resignation on February 8, 2022, to contest for an elective seat.
John Kiarie (KJ)
John Kiarie Waweru, popularly known as KJ is the Member of Parliament (MP) for Dagoreti South constituency. He was elected in 2017 on a Jubilee Party ticket.
Kiarie is a trained teacher by profession having taught at Materi Girls Centre and State House Girls' High School.
KJ had an interest in journalism and spent seven years at the Nation Media Group, where he worked in the field and wrote columns for the publication. He also served as director of the Athi Water Services Board.
The youthful MP is also a communication and advertising consultant and has worked for Scanad before moving to Transcend where he was one of the founding directors.
Churchill
Daniel Churchill Ndambuki has established himself in Kenya's entertainment industry. While his career in comedy began on other local shows, the highlight of his career came when he joined the Redykyulass crew.
He later started Churchill Live, a stand-up comedy show which brought together comedians from across the country. The show grew in popularity and gave birth to the Churchill Show. Churchill appeared in the movie The First Grader.
Apart from the show, the comedian also works is also one of the most popular radio personalities and has been playing Mwalimu King'ang'i and Classic 105 for over ten years.
Tony Njuguna
Popularly known for playing the role of retired President Mwai Kibaki, Tony Njuguna was among the first founders of the Redykyulass crew.
While he smade a number of appearances on stage when the show returned back to Churchill live, he has maintained a quiet life. Njuguna has judged several shows that search for the next generation of comedians including Top Comic.
He is currently the Creative Director at Scanad Group, a marketing services agency, in the creative industry.
Peter Kaimenyi
Popularly known by his stage name Kajairo, Kaimenyi is an actor cum comedian. After Redykulass, Kajairo launched a new style of comedy that incorporated music by creating parodies of popular songs.
The parodies, which at times used to address national issues affecting Kenyans, made him a household sensation.
Kajairo is still active in showbiz and occasionally makes appearances on Churchill Show. He also runs his own show, Keja Queens, on YouTube.
Mdomo Baggy
Maurice Ochieng, known by his stage name, Mdomo baggy, was the man behind former Prime Minister Raila Odinga's impression in Redykyulass.
Ochieng' made had a brief stint in show biz, where he premiered the TV show, Baggy. He also ventured into stand up comedy and has served as a Master of Ceremonies (MC) in national events.
He threw his hat in the political ring in 2007 and 2013 when he contested the Kamukunji Parliamentary seat but lost.
Raila and Mdomo baggy have reunited with the comedian serving in the ODM leader's communications team.
