Kenyan comedian and online content creator Jaymo Decin has opened up about the intense fear that led him to contemplate retirement after his viral parody of President William Ruto.
Speaking on the AMTV podcast hosted by Alex Mwakideu, the comedian shared the dramatic aftermath of his creative work.
Two Days in Hiding
Following the release of the viral parody, Decin admitted he was gripped by fear of arrest. He confined himself to his house for two consecutive days to avoid the authorities.
To mimic the President's look, the comedian had shaved the middle of his head. This physical transformation made going outside a challenge.
"Nilikaa kwa nyumba two days ukiogopa kushikwa," Decin revealed during the interview.
"Nilikuwa nimenyoa hapa katikati so nilikuwa navaa kofia nikitoka nje, sikuenda hata kinyozi,” he added.
Panic Calls and Mother's Tears
The viral video triggered a wave of reactions online and offline. Decin started receiving numerous phone calls from politicians who were concerned about his safety. The most emotional reaction came from his mother, a pastor, who called him in distress.
Decin recalled his mother calling him in tears
"Hii tabia James wachana na watu wengine," his mother pleaded with him.
The immense pressure almost drove him to quit.
"It reached a point I said to myself that ‘I am marketing my show, the Sudhe experience’ and I needed to do a character that most people had been asking. People had been pressuring me to mimic one character then retire, and so, I was ready to retire," Decin stated.
A Costly Parody
Parodying high-profile figures in Kenya is a costly venture. Decin revealed that producing the President Ruto skit cost him KSh 15,000. Other imitations can cost between KSh 20,000 and KSh 25,000 to shoot.
Despite the anxiety, Decin later had a reassuring encounter. During the African Summit, he met presidential security officers. One officer pointed at him and joked: "wewe umekuja tena kutuchokoza sindio."
The security team informed Decin that the clip had reached the President, who had no issue with it.
A Decade of Hustle
This viral moment is part of a longer creative journey. Decin has been in the content creation industry for 10 years, having started in 2016. His career began humbly with a short video about bachelors cooking chapati, which he recorded using his father's phone.
Heading to the Big Stage
The comedian is now preparing for his first major live show, titled 'The Sudhe Experience', scheduled for 12th September at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC). The event will feature over 100 upcoming artists whom Decin selected through auditions to support their growth.
