This archive report was first published on 15 August 2019.
Published on August 15, 2019, a new TV series, Janjaruka (Wisen Up), has launched in Nairobi, shedding light on the issue of conning in the city.
The series, produced by Flick 7Pictures, aims to start a conversation about being conned in Nairobi and asks the question, 'Is there anything we can do about it?'
According to the series, if something sounds too good to be true, it's because it almost always is. So, we all need to wisen up.
One of the many celebrities who've been conned is Jua Cali, the King of Genge. In 2004, when he was still an upcoming artiste, Jua Cali and a group of artistes went for a show in Busia but made a crucial mistake.
They didn't sign a contract and ask for a downpayment, assuming the promoter was an angel. A well-organised angel.
However, the promoter tricked them, telling them they were still collecting money because people were still coming in. He persuaded them to go ahead and perform.
During that time, Jua Cali and the rest were hungry for success and trying to make it in the industry. They agreed to perform first.
After Jua Cali was done performing, he asked the promoter about the money, but he kept taking him round in circles. He told them to wait until the following morning.
They obliged, but the following day, things took a turn for the worse. Jua Cali called the promoter several times, but his calls weren't going through. They decided to ask around the hotel if he had spent the night there, but they were told he left at 5 am after the show.
The Kiasi hitmaker kept calling, but the promoter's phone was still off. They got worried and decided to look for the club's owner, hoping to receive their pay.
When the owner arrived at the hotel, he was sorry about the mess but clear that they didn't sign a contract with him. He told them, 'I can't pay you because we had no contract. Sorry about everything, and the only thing I can do is help you with fare back to Nairobi.'
They thought the promoter would show up, but he never did. They had no option but to board an Eldoret Express back to Nairobi without the money. They branded him a conman.
Adding, 'We started getting shows, and that bad experience faded away as time passed by, but I kept remembering it. We later found out that he went into hiding in Uganda and passed away a few years ago.'
