This archive report was first published on 21 July 2019.
July 21, 2019, marked a significant milestone for Eric Omondi, one of Kenya's most celebrated comedians, as he made a triumphant return to the Churchill Show stage after a seven-year hiatus.
Eric's journey to stardom began in 2006, when he caught the attention of Churchill at an event in Daystar University, where he was an MC at the time. Churchill was impressed by Eric's skills and asked for his phone number, but Eric waited two years before Churchill called him in 2008 to inquire if he was ready to perform.
Eric has never shared the story of how he met Churchill, who taught him the art of comedy. According to Eric, he used to MC events and people would often tell him that he made them laugh. He then waited for an opportunity to perform at an event where Churchill was attending, and when he finally got the chance, he did his best, performing narratives and poems.
After the event, Churchill praised Eric, describing him as a 'skinny MC.' Two years later, Churchill called Eric and asked him to watch 12 episodes of the show and get ready to perform at the 13th episode, which marked Eric's breakthrough.
Today, Eric Omondi has become a household name, performing on various stages worldwide, thanks to his humble beginnings as a school gig. Like Eric, many comedians, including Chipukeezy, Professor Hammo, and Mammito, credit their success to Churchill, the godfather of comedy.
