Burna Boy was in town, but I chose stand-up instead. David Macharia and the People Who Agreed to Do This Show, now in its third edition, felt like the better option.
Why? Maybe because Burna Boy tickets were too expensive. Maybe because Nairobi’s stand-up scene is at a fascinating point, something historic is happening.
Or maybe because I’d rather laugh than stand in the cold watching someone I already see on YouTube. Unless it’s a vvvip ticket, stand-up will always win.
David Macharia wasn’t just the MC—this was his show. He started off easy by working the crowd, his set covered New Year’s resolutions, sugar addiction a clever take on Jesus and the dictionary. But some jokes took time to land. Smart comedy is great, but timing is everything.
One thing that stood out? His use of the stage. Most comedians stick to the mic stand, but David leaned into the stool, literally. Sitting, pausing, making the space feel like his own. It gave his moments a laid-back, conversational feel.
Kevin Mwalimu
Kevin Mwalimu opened with self-deprecating humour, joking about his jaw and high school nicknames. His set flowed well, with callbacks tying his bits together. His material on marriage, his hatred for Chihuahuas, and America as a third-world country landed well.
His bit on white people and language was a highlight. If you’ve seen him before, like most of the other comedians some jokes might have felt familiar, but for first-timers, he delivered a solid set.
His confidence kept the room engaged, his set felt more like he was chasing reactions rather than building towards them. If you have to remind people that your material is risque then you are not doing a good job with your set ups.
Jack Alita
First thing that had my attention, his height and shaggy hair, the kind of hair that reminded me of njugush.
His set was suprisingly well structured, each joke flowing into the next effortlessly.
His matatu bit was a was relatable and funny. The high school and paraffin joke was so well set up. I thought he had one of the most polished sets of the night. Even with mic issues, his delivery stayed sharp.
Darren
Darren was the only one who made an effort to respect the stage by wearing a suit. His material on being a white guy in Kenya felt familiar, but everything changed when he pulled out knives, cards and ropes.
His magic performance was one of the most engaging moments of the night. His ability to blend stand-up with magic, made his performance memorable.
Fadhilee Itulya
Fadhilee changed the pace, one man, one guitar, and great vocals. After all the energy, slowing down was a refreshing shift.
DJ Gattoni
DJ Gatthoni, though, was the MVP. She didn’t just play music, she flipped familiar tracks into something new. Though it was more of hip hop, I was really impressed by how she was able to blend different sound together and create a fantastic audio experience.
This show had every reason to fail. It was up against a major concert, traffic was a nightmare, and the mics were unreliable. But somehow, I really enjoyed myself.
That said, it felt unpolished. Performers like Darren, David, and Fadhilee understood how to own the stage. Others, while talented, still need to polish their stage presence.
The flashing lights, Fine, but a warning would’ve been nice. The smoking inside is not a big deal but for non-smokers, Chemi Chemi should add air conditioners or have the smokers go outside.
