Crisis in Churchill's House?

                   Churchill                                          Photo: Courtesy

For many Kenyans, watching their latest comedians in action is something we have become used to, especially on television where almost daily, new comedians are being discovered. The biggest name in this realm is, undoubtedly, Daniel Ndambuki aka Churhill, a man synonymous with the Churchill Show, Heartstrings Kenya and Laugh Industry— all of which have churned out new comedians like Chipukeezy, Sleepy Teacher Wanjiku and Owago Onyiro.

However, there have been allegations that all is not well, this time round. This season’s show kicked off with enough questions already after a delay and what seemed to be changes in personnel, from the production team to other technical aspects.

When allegations started floating to the effect that the actors are underpaid and that there are delays in payment, it sounded like things were deflating fast.

Then there was the SMS reportedly sent out at the end of last year, talking of ‘constraints’, warning that the company was on a ‘restructuring’ and ‘workforce reduction’ path and telling its recipients that further official communication would be relayed at the beginning of the following week.

Email correspondence in our possession from one Peter Mwangi to several of the employees and written on January 2 of this year reads;

Hi All,

“Happy New Year!

Trust you are well,

I have been instructed by the CEO to let you know that he will personally get in touch with you on when to resume your official laugh industry Duties.

This is to allow the management perform internal restructuring.

 

Your Dec 2013 salaries will be deposited to your personal accounts.

In case you have not shared your bank details kindly do send them to me stating the Bank Name Branch and Account Number also your ID Number”

 

 

 

A source that claims to have worked in the show termed them as mean.

“How can you pay a comedian Shs1 000 when you earn millions?,” he poses adding that only two comedians are paid Shs20,000 with the rest earning Shs1,000 or Shs5000 if your act is aired. As it turns out, only five get featured in a show, leaving out all the others.

“I don’t want to talk about pay. What I can say is that the show is a good platform for comedians,” David the student replies when asked to comment, adding that the issue of underpayment or overpayment depends on the individual.

There are claims that contract comedians are paid between Shs25,000 and Shs30,000 per month while those not on contract receive Shs5,000 if they are lucky to have their part played on TV.

AKA, known for his ‘Ayeya Poapoa’ chant and who has been missing from the show for some time now, confirmed this figure,

“Yes some guys just get Shs1000 for fare but if you appear on TV you get Shs5000 but I am not certain because it could have changed depending on who it is. The highest is paid like shs.8000 per episode,” he noted.

An employee claims to have witnessed a comedian walk in holding a panga to demand for his pay. These delays are alleged to be happening while the company continues to buy assets and rake in money and some misplaced priorities by top management.

Chipukeezy, who was rumoured to be threatening to leave vehemently termed the rumours untrue.

“No I cannot leave the show that is home because Chipukeezy is Churchill and Churchill is Chipukeezy. He’s like my dad and he discovered me. Even if I leave the show I would still work with him,” said he, further denying that there was lack of payment.

“Some of these people are looking for fame. Some guys like me receive pay on time we can even afford to buy cars and live comfortably. Maybe they’re trying to frustrate the boss,” he added.

Paul ‘Wakimani’ Ogutu however confirmed there were sackings,

“Some guys were sacked yesterday (10th Friday) but I don’t know why,” he said.

“As for me my manager is negotiating my contract. I had left the show because we kosanad but they called me. We had left each other badly but we’re talking now. The issue wasn’t money but coverage even though I was on contract,” he explains his prolonged absence adding that it is normal for comedians to take breaks without having quit or been terminated.

AKA also denies that he had quit and explains his absence thus;

“Personally I don’t move as a group. Churchill is a great platform but I want to push my own brand in my own platform which will also help me mentor other guys which I think is lacking,”

J Blessing declined to comment on whether he had quit too, only giving a curt response;

“This year J Blessing is not taking any interviews. It is my resolution”

On the other hand Victor Ber did confirm he had left the show. “Yes it’s true. In pursuit of greener pastures,” he said.

He is however keen to state that he left in good terms with the team

“I felt it was time to leave it to the young guys to take over as I focus on other things,” he added.

Others who have been missing include Eric Omondi and Teacher Wanjiku. Whereas Eric Omondi cites his schedule, handling Nikon a Safaricom Live and OLX as the reason for his absence and indicating that he will be back, for Teacher Wanjiku it seems to be adios.

Teacher Wanjiku, who was on contract but has been absent since late last year, is now said to have left the show to start her own which is still under wraps. She insists she is in good terms with Churchill even after some online forums claim that they fell out due to a contract with a leading telecommunications after Churchill apparently asked for 55 per cent of the Shs6million she was paid.

Was her decision tied to Victor’s, who happens to be her fiancé? She declined to comment, as did victor.

Churchill Responds

In order to give his side of the story a calm and composed Daniel Ndambuki finally agrees to meet me. He calls the company accountant, Peter.

“Yes there were some delays in December because the executive producers pay us first then we sort out the comedians which we did immediately,” he explains and pulls out a document showing that Laugh Industry had sent out a letter to the executive producers requesting for their dues.

On the issue of payment, he confirms that comedians get paid based on contract and take home between Shs30,000 and Shs40,000 per month, while those not on contract get Shs1,000 fare and a retainer for the ones that make it to the show. “We make zero! 50 per cent of what we make goes to production, which is very expensive, and the other 50 per cent goes to paying the comedians. Considering we have over thirty comedians with eleven on contract, the money is spent,” he says, after which Peter does the number crunching to drive the point home.

“ That is why we had to make some changes this year. Laugh Industry has over 70 employees and we have to pay comedians regardless,” Churchill adds.

He confirms that a letter was sent out by the board of directors noting that it was a restructuring letter and not a termination letter, as was claimed.

“We are restructuring just like any other company does because we have too many employees. Those who proved their worth will be called back and so forth. Guys have been sent home, yes, but not fired and the letter was not sent by Kitili,” he elaborates.

He denies rumours that J Blessing is leaving, saying rather that he was coming on board to produce one of four new shows that are coming up.

“In fact I am going to meet J Blessing after this. His absence is part of the restructuring as I said because how can we be having three producers for one show and four stage managers? It can’t work like that anymore. We are wasting resources,” he says.

By now he is relaxed and laughs when asked about Teacher Wanjiku having left due to the contract disagreement, he laughs and pulls out a signed document that shows how much both Airtel and Blue band paid her.

“I did not get any money. I don’t know where people got the six million figure from or that I wanted 55 per cent. As you can see all the money was paid solely to her in both deals. This platform gives comedians lots of opportunities and we don’t ask for money from their gigs or other endorsements. It is all theirs,”

Ken Waudo, one of the directors who was also present, also refuted claims that the company bought him a vehicle to retain him in the company while salaries went unpaid.

“I have a car. I had half the money and took a loan from the company. The kind of work I do requires me to have a car. This is hilarious!,” he says as he laughs some more.

Churchill accepts that some have left for other opportunities while others are working on new shows with his help. He notes that it is not easy to have everyone fit in in a show where they record for five hours and it is cut to 40minutes.

What about the allegation of a sponsor pulling out of Kids’ Festival, one of their flagship events?

“The Kid’s festival did not take place last year because of the Jubilee celebrations which we felt would have swallowed it but we shall be having one this April. As for Milo they did not drop out but they achieved their targets and we have many companies that will also come on board,” he responds.

OK, what about the panga incident;

“Where do people get such things? You won’t even be allowed into the building. How do you carry a panga? Hata afadhali ubebe gun,” he says before calling Peter to confirm or deny the incident. Peter, too, muffles a laughter.

“For me this is a calling. There’s a difference between a job and a calling. That’s why some people can take your kindness for weakness but there’s a God who sees. As they say ‘Tenda wema nenda zako,” Churchill concludes our interview.