Celebrated Citizen TV Presenter Willis Raburu has opened up on his struggles to get on screen.
The Media personality, affirmed that the comedy show helped him discover his potential in media despite being a graduate of Moi University’s School of Information Sciences.
“I consider myself funny, or at least that’s what my friends say about me. I probably wouldn’t have known this if I had not been to Moi University. I was among top performers at our university’s cultural day. Trust me, I made people laugh. I happened to be so good that one of my friends suggested I host a comedy show. I picked up the idea and created an alter ego… Just like Tyler Perry does with ‘Madea’, mine was a lady character called ‘Peninah’. All I wanted to do was give people an alternative for Friday engagement. I wanted them to spend their Fridays laughing and not go out to spend their pockets off. I gave them the option for just 30 bob.” said Willis Raburu
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Raburu’s show in campus earned him the name Wayne which later become the official name for his comedy show.
“The first time, I was on my own, and it was hard. I had to get someone to design my posters, while I played promoter and ticket seller. I would walk around with one poster, sit with it at the student’s centre, advertise it and carry tickets along with me. I still had to attend my lessons. I knew students could be broke at times, but sparing just 30 bob for a good laugh would not be too much for them. People would ask whether the Wayne (My nickname in Campus) would show up for the event.They could not even tell I was Wayne, yet I was supposed to make them laugh.” Added Raburu
“Students came in numbers and laughed their Fridays off. I made an extra Sh20,000 out of that, and had enough money to pay the other entertainers that I’d invited. From that time, ‘Wayne Live’ became a regular event which earned me a few bucks on the side. I made people long for Fridays. I think I was funny; I think I still am.” said Willis Raburu
Willis joined K24 as an intern while in third year at Moi University. After graduation he was hired by citizen TV in October 2010 when he was 24 years. He has worked there till now.
“When I was 24 and I got hired by Citizen Television straight out of campus – that was a very pivotal point in my life. Many did not believe that one can get employed at a reputable organization without having ‘key’ connections. The job came at a time when I had been turned down by other local TV stations – they told me I did not have the right type of voice for broadcast,” he said.
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Raburu has shifted within roles while at Royal media, has he started off as a reporter, News anchor and a now a host of most watched TV shows on our local channels.