Kenya’s stand-up scene decided that instead of politely toasting to the new year, it was better to drag 2025 through the mud one last time.
At Baraza Media Lab, comedians gathered for The Year That Was: A Roast of 2025 — part therapy session, part comedy show, and part collective exorcism.
Yes, there were technical glitches. Yes, scripts occasionally felt like they’d been printed five minutes before showtime. But the chaos only added to the charm. If you missed it, here’s how it all went down.
Arriving early gave me a glimpse into the organised chaos. You had Maina Munene, Jack Alita, Mic One, George Waweru, and Marcus Douglas pacing the floor, passing scripts back and forth, sometimes they had their heads buried in laptops, murmuring to themselves as if they were working on a spell.
Meanwhile, Nelly Wangechi was a constant blur of motion, repeatedly taking to the stage to examine the lighting and screens. It felt like a genuine community effort, and all this was before the mics went live.
The opener was Knamics, the “one-man guitar.” His acoustic sing-alongs, like crowd-favourite Ugali, were simple, warm, and exactly the kind of palate cleanser needed before the roasting began.
Ty Ngachira & Justine Wanda
Co-hosting is a high-risk, high-reward game, but Ty and Justine shared the kind of chemistry you usually only see in long-running TV shows. Their banter bounced effortlessly from Oburu Odinga to Raila Odinga to by-elections to Azziad delivered with a comedic twist that aligned with the evening's theme.
What struck me most was the sheer potential of this pairing. Despite the visible presence of physical scripts and technical hiccups that threatened to kill the momentum, they never let the energy drop.
For a split second, I saw something special, something close to a political satirical TV dynamic duo. Their ability to keep up with each other’s pace and pivot on a dime was, frankly, impressive.
Viral moments with Arnold Saviour
Arnold walked out looking like a professional mourner, complete with a flywhisk and a sombre approach (that had a retake) which betrayed the chaos he was about to unleash. His set utilised visual aids, video clips and photos to drive home the punchlines.
He relished the "Slaps of the Year" and dissected the Deputy President’s "bitter ex" energy, hilariously comparing Rigathi Gachagua’s movements to those of a Mexican cartel boss.
His breakdown of "Tree-Hugging Truphena" and the absurdity of 72-hour endurance records was hilarious. He closed with the year's most seismic event, the passing of Raila Odinga, weaving the airport drama during the funeral into an "Aviator" betting joke that was as risky as it was funny. His energy was spot on, setting a high bar for the rest of the lineup.
Identity crisis with Imogen Hooper
Imogen stepped away from the traditional roast format to deliver a storytelling set that hit home for anyone who has ever felt like an outsider.
As a white Kenyan who doesn't know Kiswahili or Sheng, she leaned into the “mzungu" from Karen ideologies for some of her funniest material.
She touched on the French heist somehow brought it back to boda bodas. She even shared bits about being a tourist in South America and instinctively applying Kenyan survival tactics.I thought her timing and the narrative structure of her set were well executed.
Political gaslighting with Justine Wanda
Justine is at her absolute best when she is righteously going at the government. She took on the "Gaslighting Moments of 2025" with surgical precision.
From "Chapati moments" to the SGR conveniently failing during times of national protest, to prison escape in 2025 that made little to no logical sense, somehow found a funny angle to the shoe incidence using BBC all through utilising video evidence to drive her points home.
She even found humour in the niche drama of the Raptcha and Mwafreeka breakup. Her set was dark, political, and exactly the kind of sharp-edged commentary I expected from her.
Sports & the pivot with George Waweru
George had the toughest job of the night. Tasked with the sporting review, he ran headfirst into a massive technical failure. Instead of panicking or blaming the tech crew or lazily falling back to old mastered material, George turned the glitch into an impromptu, highly interactive crowd-work session, all while remaining incredibly composed.
Eventually, after the issues were resolved, he pivoted back to the Harambee Stars’ "typical" performance and the comedic tragedy of Kenya being knocked out of CHAN by Madagascar and also the fascinating case of David Munyua. His ability to think on his feet and keep the show going was as impressive as the scripted material itself.
Honouring the craft
When Ty took his solo turn, he spent a significant portion roasting George Waweru, but then shifted to something more sentimental. He looked back at the evolution of stand-up in Kenya since 2018, reflecting on the struggle to grow the culture and the hurdles the community has overcome.
He took a moment to celebrate the comedians who toured Europe and the major milestones achieved in 2025. It was a necessary moment of self-reflection.
Stand-up comedy rarely gets the attention it deserves, given that, unlike football, it doesn’t offer any political mileage or Like Munyua before the win, hasn’t yet garnered global notoriety.
So it was heartening to see the performers blow their own trumpets and acknowledge their growth in a country that often overlooks the arts.
Doug Mutai
Doug closed the individual sets by tackling personal issues like marriage, social media, porn and the pervasive negativity some Kenyans hold toward their own country. Doug’s material veered into directions outside the specific events of 2025.
However, he did touch on Boniface Mwangi Vs Raila Odinga and the political climate in the country. This provided a much-needed change of pace and tone, breaking the monotony of the "review" format while maintaining the high energy established from the start.
Lessons
What They Got Right:
- Utilising videos as both comedic punchlines and context was a smart move that kept the audience engaged.
- By mixing standard stand-up sets (Imogen and Doug) with the "year in review" format, they avoided the show feeling monotonous.
- Ty and Justine were the perfect choices to hold the evening together.
Each act handled a topic they were genuinely familiar with, which made the humour feel earned rather than forced.
What Didn't Quite Hit the Spot:
- The glitches nearly derailed the flow. A solid "Plan B" (or a dedicated tech rehearsal) should be in place if they are going to be doing this again.
- At times, it felt like comedians were reading their scripts for the first time. Internalising and mastering the material earlier would have made it feel like a natural extension of their personas. Also, avoid papers on stage.
- While the local roast was brilliant, and they were trying to keep it Kenyan, a quick nod to global chaos, like the Diddy drama, Israel, the US political climate, and ICE, would have rounded out the year's madness.
- I also thought a lot of the 2025 spiced moments were left out.
Final thoughts
Despite the unpolished moments and the technical hiccups, this was a well-put-together event. Good idea, the performances were gutsy, and the audience matched the comedians' energy every step of the way.
This was a strong opening to the year for Kenyan comedy. It’s worth noting that this wasn't the only show in town; Amadeep was also performing at the new stand-up spot in Westlands, Suave Kitchen. With more accessible venues popping up and the quality of writing on the rise, 2026 is shaping up to be a massive year for the local scene.
