Bringing laughter to prisoners

By Harold Ayodo

More than 2,000 suspects surround them for rib tickling jokes at the Nairobi Remand and Allocation Prison.

They are the main source of entertainment for the depressed prisoners some of whom have spent months or years at the facility, awaiting conclusion of their cases.

John Njenga and Johana Kariuki are stand-up comedians who are on trial but they still have not lost their sense of humour. They entertain fellow remandees some on murder, rape and robbery with violence charges and who are the most depressed lot.

Kerismo comedians John Njenga and Johana Kariuki entertain inmates and warders at Nairobi Remand and Allocation Prison. Photos: Evans Habil/Standard

The Kerismo Comedians, as they call themselves, dress like clowns in tattered clothes and unleash an avalanche of jokes as their colleagues huddle around them for a round of laughter.

The duo has often run into trouble with prison authorities for extending their entertainment sessions late into the night when everyone is supposed to be asleep.

Senior Deputy Commissioner of Prisons George MacGoye was among the high profile officials treated to their cocktail of jokes during a visit to launch a gospel compact disc (CD) produced by the St Cecilia Prison Choir recently. At the time, Njenga and Kariuki performed a rib-cracking skit on why they feel they should be convicted. "I cannot leave prison because we are treated like kings. We sleep on new comfy mattresses and are rushed to hospital when we are sick," Njenga said.

He said there were no blackouts in prison and they were saved from headaches of family responsibilities.

"We no longer solve financial problems from our demanding wives including taking our sick children to hospital. We eat, laugh and sleep," he joked.

Entertaining inmates

In a twist, the duo says they long for an opportunity to tickle magistrates hearing their criminal cases and hope to be set free.

The over 2,000 remandees and 600 prison staff burst into laughter when Kariuki said they were VIPs who do not ride in old matatus.

"We ride on cosy prison buses to court — a luxury which very few civil servants can only dream of," Kariuki said as remandees cheered them on. They joked of how the officer in charge of the facility — Pauline Wanja Ngara — who they call mathee (mother), treats them like her children.

"Tunaskia iko njaa nje lakini mathee hapa anatuua na chakula (we hear there is famine outside prison but our mother here is killing us with lots of food)," Kariuki said. Their jokes are too infectious that even the prison warders who are responsible for ensuring none of the prisoners escape, drop their guard as they break in laughter.

"Tuko na security yenye hata wengi kwa serikali hawawezi kupata (we have a 24-hour security detail that most people in government lack)," Njenja said forcing the warders to burst into a bout of laughter. They even mock their colleagues for committing robberies and murder like ‘amateurs’ leading to their arrest.

The story of how the two comedians met at the facility is equally funny. They were arrested for criminal offences at different times.

Njenga and Kariuki were partners in the comedy business sometimes earning Sh20,000 per day for performing for corporate firms on road shows before their arrest.

Kariuki was charged with theft of motor vehicle, an offence he denied.

Coincidental arrest

"I was arrested and charged for allegedly stealing a car in Limuru," Kariuki says.

He was perplexed when prison warders hustled Njenga into the same cell a month after he was arrested.

"I heard Njenga’s voice and thought I was dreaming. He was immediately brought in and told that this would be his home until his case was concluded," Kariuki says.

Njenga claims he is accused of stealing a mobile phone — a charge that he has also denied.

The comedians now hope to be acquitted but they will continue to entertain and build their talents in the facility.

"We still rehearse because we have enough time and a free audience to test whether our jokes are effective," Kariuki says.

They are happy that they can make even gloomy and worried suspects on capital offences laugh.They believe laughter is the best medicine and everyone must occasionally laugh off stress including inmates on death row.

No hurry on death row

"Our colleagues who are charged with murder or robbery with violence (referred to as stroke two) should not be depressed as they could be innocent," Njenga says.

He jokes that suspects who could be sentenced to hang should eat a lot, adding that those are jailed for life should never to eat in a hurry.

"Those who may be hanged may miss the food while those who will be here for life will have all the food at their disposal without working for it," Njenga says.

Remandees say they love the comedians for lighting up their days and no one has ever taken offence with their jokes that touch on everyone within the facility.

The prison officer in charge has no problem with the comedians.

"The two are talented and as long as there is harmony in the facility, we allow them to explore their talents," Ngara says.

She says they have been entertaining guests during official functions on several occasions.

"Some of their jokes are about peace, love and unity. We encourage remandees to pursue talents while awaiting dispensation of their cases," Ngara says.