Why ‘Obot Anderson’ is queen of Kalenjin comedy

By Nikko Tanui

For several years now, Obot Anderson (Caroline Chepngeno) has been tickling listeners of a local Kalenjin radio station.

In her radio skit, the hugely popular comedian acts as an opinionated rural woman who often clashes with her chauvinistic husband.

The couple’s spirited arguments on a myriad of issues is often full of hilarious moments, with fans tuning in to sample her lively jokes and rib-cracking antics.

So popular is the comedian that it is not uncommon to find villagers having chit-chats on the latest topics discussed.

Best comedian

The mother of one, who is arguably one of the best female comedians from the Kalenjin community, says she discovered she could make people laugh during the initial years of her schooling. Obot says during those days, she would regale fellow pupils with tales that would leave them in stitches.

Apart from comedy, the young woman from Kakimirai village, Bomet County, runs a programme called Kalewenik ab Kalenjin (Kelenjin proverbs) dedicated to discussion of local proverbs.

“The Kalenjin have over 5000 proverbs which are still applicable and entertaining that should be passed to the next generation,” says the multi-talented radio personality who credits her grandmother for her knowledge of the community’s folklore.

The Kenya Cultural Center graduate is a published author, having launched her motivational Swahili book, Uvumilivu Ni Ufunguo wa Heri (patience pays), last year.

The book, perhaps the first of its kind to be authored by a Kalenjin woman in Swahili, an orphaned girl who defies all odds to successful and useful person to the society.

The writer, who discloses that Kiswahili was her favorite subject during her school days, says she began writing the book while in Form Two at Kaparuso Mixed Secondary School in Bomet.

“I am a huge fan of Kiswahili writers such as Wala Bin Wala, Ken Walibora, Ali Mazrui among other,” the forth born in a family of six siblings explains.

She also says she decided to write the book to disabuse Kenyans of the notion that members of the Kalenjin community are not coherent in national languages perpetuated by comedians who make a living poking fun at the native’s accent.

Written poems

The ambitious young woman also discloses that she has written tens of poems that she intends to publish soon.

“Anything you have an interest in becomes a passion. I just wanted to write something that would lift one up and demonstrate that dreams can come true,” says the writer who always jumped at an opportunity to read ‘news’ at her former school morning assembly.