Just yesterday, youthful comedian, Chipukeezy shook the Internet after announcing his departure from his host home, Ebru TV.
This was over an argument with the management concerning his kind of ‘ghetto’ content to the viewers, with the main focus being on upcoming comedian, Kartelo. The two co-host a weekly show on Ebru TV.
According to Chipukeezy, if Kartelo is leaving, so is he. This attracted fury from Kenyans who declared they will boycott the local TV station if Chipukeezy exits.
The issue has been trending for the last couple of hours since Chipukeezy broke the news and fellow comedians, Eric Omondi and Teacher Wanjiku have reacted on the same.
What comes out is accusations fired towards Ebru TV for allegedly frustrating and mistreating its very own employees.
Eric Omondi
President of comedy, Eric Omondi disclosed that not once nor twice, did Chipukeezy call him to express the frustrations he was facing under Ebru TV’s management.
Eric recalls a time when he personally witnessed guards at the gate literally harass Chipukeezy for carrying ‘vijana strange’ as he pens:
I can not count the number of times Chipukeezy called me to Cry, Lament and Complain about Mistreatments and Frustrations at Ebru
. I witnessed personally in awe as a watchman stopped Chipukeezy’s car at the gate and asked him to park outside because he was carrying “Vijana strange” ( Guests at the show). It is high time Media Houses started treating Artists with due respect.
Further supporting Chipukeezy’s decision to move on to a different platform, because mainstream media is no longer what we used to know it for.
I have not been on TV for the past 7 years and I can assure you that am doing JUST FINE so @chipukeezy and @kartelo_official will be More than Okay!!! Do not be lied to @chipukeezy has left Ebru because of simple MADHARAU hata sio @kartelo_official tu, I have seen my boy suffer in silence and with sooo much patience, he’s taken it all and now he’s left. VIJANAAAA!!! ALUTA CONTINUA!!!
Kartelo
Soon after Chipukeezy’s announcement over his termination of contract, Kartelo opened up on similar mistreatment by Ebru TV’s management.
https://www.instagram.com/p/ByKWCqsB3Qi/
According to Kartelo, since he joined Ebru TV, it has been harassment and lots of frustrations, day-in, day-out.
But kulikuwa na ngori, our station walianza maneno Mara oooh show imeanza kuwa na ughetto, Mara oooh kartelo ata atolewe hiyo show ati wazazi hawashiki lugha yake. Walianza kunivuruga since day one. Nikaambiwa we shut down all upcomings na gengetone tulete Wasee wako na ‘value’ .. Chipukeezy thanks again ulisimama na Mimi na the rest of the other talented youths na Kimacho Ngumu tukafanya show.. Fristrations zilikuwa mob, ikafika pale adi watchi anaambiwa tukiingia uko tuvurugwe. Every Monday kwa gate akukukosa Vurugu. Our audience were treated badly.. Our guests pia. Nakumbuka mdosi wangu apo alikuwa anachachisha hadi anatoa veins za kichwa.
Unfortunately, Kartelo has reason enough to believe that Kenyan youth do not have platforms to air their views nor represent what they stand for.
For the first time ndio Nilianza kunotice btw vijana joh Tuko underated. Si huonekana kama sijui nini. Content tu zetu tunavurugwa ni za uduu. Mdosi wangu apa wamemvuruga sana ju anakuwa involved na mavijana. Juzi tu walituma email. Bila tu reason wakadai kartelo asiwai onekana Chipukeezy show ama karibu na hio station… Chipukeezy after tumechapiana for the last few days, akadaisha tu Show itabidi imengolewa.. Anyway the show will continue on another platform tuzidishe Rieng. Mayutman tutaconquer.
According to Kartelo, Chipukeezy has always been a mentor, a brother, his best friend and a father figure. Instead of firing him, he stood by him and decided to terminate the show.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B1n2daHhnFS/
Teacher Wanjiku
Celebrated female comedian, Teacher Wanjiku opened up in regard to mainstream media in Kenya that continues to frustrate content creators, airing:
I want to address an issue that @chipukeezy and @ericomondi have brought forward concerning TV and Radio Stations in Kenya and how they have treated Us, you come to us asking for content we give it and you always frustrate Artists, I believe in team work if something is not working you go back on the drawing table and you start again not cancelling it.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B1N_qcSAGpW/
Revealing reasons why she has kept off the mainstream media for a while now citing:
I haven’t been on Main stream media for years reason being ‘Not being good enough’. Guess what, social media is the thing, if you have your content put it online, let people decide if they are interested or not. That’s the way to go. I have been able to reach a very wide Audience with just online content and so many others. For you who call for interviews and I can’t even talk about my shows ati na ‘advertise’. When I have a show I want to let people know and I request for interviews I don’t get! Then you call me way later ati you want me to talk about my life. This is my life; my job is to create and entertain people. Take it or leave it.