Stand-up comedy is often dismissed as a mere "side hustle," sometimes compared to the frivolous skits dominating social media, but anyone paying attention to the Kenyan stand-up scene knows it's a demanding art form requiring immense intellectual rigour.
The current crop of comedians is a testament to this. We have Ruth Nyambura (a banker), Ty Ngachira (a lawyer), George Waweru (a telecommunication engineer) and Doug Mutai (an entrepreneur), just to mention a few.
And to reinforce that, on the evening of November 1st at the Alliance Française Auditorium, we got the long-overdue recording of Bashir Kiptoo Halaiki's stand-up special, who just happens to be an aeronautical engineer.
With six years in the Kenya stand-up scene, Halaiki, a witty, sociable, and intelligent character, finally took the leap to tape his first special, simply titled A Halaiki.
Setting the stage
The evening's atmosphere was first established by Darren, the show's director. His task was to manage the live taping logistics, setting ground rules with a comedic touch.
He didn't issue sterile commands, instead, he used his own stand-up ability to gently enforce protocols, ensuring the crowd's energy was high and everyone understood their role in the recording process. It was a brilliant, almost meta-performance that established the required seriousness while maintaining the mood.
Emmanuel Kisiangani
As the official host he proved to be the perfect choice. His energy was okay (I have seen him do better), I thought his experience in crowd work and improv did a lot of the heavy lifting.
Kisiangani effortlessly transitioned from hosting duties into the first act, immediately engaging the audience with material ranging from the popular Mwafreeka/Raptcha relationship to the relatable struggles of employment, living in Kitengela, and the nuances of marriage.
While his hosting felt perfectly honed, his stand-up set leaned heavily on crowd work and improv, giving the impression of an incredibly smart student who did not prepare for the exam, sometimes struggling to keep up. Though he scattered some brilliant material, the set felt more like a spontaneous clinic in improvisation than a carefully structured opening act.
Titus Mutai
Titus Mutai followed with a very solid set of material that felt prepared and well-rehearsed. While familiar to seasoned fans, his material on his name, relationship arguments, and weight issues was layered with decent storytelling but weak delivery.
He delivered a quality set that at times resonated with the majority of the audience, showcasing a comedian who didn't need to prepare for the exam because he benefited from a leakage.
Nduta Kariuki
Her performance was wonderfully laid-back and intimate. While she demonstrated a warm, storytelling style, speaking on growing up on the farm and the challenges of gym life, she seemed genuinely shaken by the lights and sheer size of the audience.
Her set felt less about conventional comedy and more like a heartfelt conversation, focused on appreciating her peers and the fans of The Kisiangani podcast.
Like Kisiangani, there was a sense of brilliant content that hadn't been fully solidified for the magnitude of the event, yes, another brilliant student who didn't prepare for the exam.
George Waweru
George Waweru (Chai Knees) was prepared. He did a fantastic job of keeping the focus squarely on the laughs. His bits, covering topics like dating, toxic masculinity, wearing the same shirt as Kisiangani and the chaos of protests, were well-tagged, and his delivery was perfectly timed. He was highly present and engaging.
There was a sense of ownership of his set time, a sense of control, earning a huge reaction from the audience and proving that he was that one student who came in fully prepared for the exam.
Themain event: Bashir's execution
When Bashir Halaiki finally took the stage, the evening culminated in an undeniably well put-together performance. Out of fairness to the upcoming release of the special, I won't detail the material.
However, I can attest that his content was deeply personal, pushing the envelope on subjects like religion and his own background, while maintaining a surprising level of approachability.
What truly defined his performance was the execution. The pacing of his set was magnificent, he moved from setup to punchline with no awkward pauses or noticeable breathing room.
It was evident this was a show years in the making; every joke was lean, well-constructed, and precise. He possessed the committed, focused energy of a self-aware comedian at a crucial moment in their career, similar to watching comedy legends during their breakout specials in the 90s.
The only slight gripe was his stage presence. Though he occasionally moved, and the contrast between his outfit and the background made him stand out, it felt as though he had been strictly directed to stand at one spot.
Sacrificing some of the stage control seen in the other acts. But this minor blocking constraint did nothing to slow the relentless momentum of his tightly packed material. The director, Darren, will undoubtedly have a tough time editing, as there was virtually no fat to trim.
Despite the rain and the slight feeling of a 'Kisiangani Podcast' get-together among the performers, the event was a fun experience.
More stand-up
The stand-up special will hit our screens sometime in the future, but if you are still hungry for some Kenyan stand-up comedy, there are events taking place weekly, plus Mammito Eunice, Amandeep Jagde, and Doug Mutai have a stand-up special available on YouTube for free.
