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It is no longer a laughing matter. Comedian Walter Mong’are, popularly known by the stage name Nyambane, yesterday proved wrong his critics who have treated his presidential ambitions as just another joke.

Nyambane, 47, was a member of Redykyulass — the famous ensemble of local comedians that rose to fame for its mimicry acts in the early 2000s.

On Monday, he became the first comedian in large country’s history to get the green light to run for Kenya’s top seat, outshining other hopefuls who had sought the same over the past two days from the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

Although his candidature is yet to gain much traction, unlike political heavyweights such as Deputy President William Ruto and Azimio’s leader Raila Odinga, he will now get a chance at the polls on August 9.  

The Umoja Summit Party leader will, however, have to wait to see who else will join him on the ballot as IEBC  clears other hopefuls in seven days. 

President Uhuru Kenyatta appointed him the Director of  Youth at State House in 2017. He has defended his decision to seek to replace his boss, saying he has learnt the ropes.

“President Kenyatta and Deputy President Ruto have been my bosses for five years. I am not competing with my boss Ruto. I want to show him that I have learned how to lead the country. I have been a good student,” said Mong’are recently.

Earlier, Mong’are had revealed that Uhuru asked him to drop his stage name.

Redykyulass was a wildly popular group for its skits that emulated the traits and lifestyles of then-President Daniel Arap Moi and his associates. They also mimicked President Kibaki’s regime after he took over in 2003, but broke up soon thereafter.

Other members of the group were John Kiarie (KJ – now Dagoretti MP); and Tony Njuguna.