The first edition of the Cheka Awards, the first ever awards purely for comedy in Kenya, were held over the weekend at P.C.E.A. ST. Andrew’s Auditorium along State House Road. It was indeed a colorful event with the crème de le crème of Kenya’s comedians in attendance.

The list of nominees, categories for awards and the winners of the day at the glittering ceremony were as follows:

KING OF COMEDY – 2013
A1 OTOYO(WINNER)
A2 ERIC OMONDI
A3 OLEXANDER JOSEPHAT
A4 CHURCHILL
A5 JALANG’O

QUEEN OF COMEDY – 2013
B1 AWINJA
B2 WILBRODA
B3 TEACHER WANJIKU
B4 ZULEKHA (WINNER)
B5 JASTORINA MBOCH

LIFE-TIME ACHIEVER COMEDIAN
C1 MZEE OJWANG (WINNER)
C2 INSPECTOR MWALA
C3 OLEXANDER JOSEPHAT
C4 MAMA KAYAI
C5 ONDIEK NYUKA AQUATER

BEST STAND-UP COMEDIAN – 2013

D1 OTOYO
D2 ERIC OMONDI(WINNER)
D3 TEACHER WANJIKU
D4 CHURCHILL
D5 JALANG’O
D6 MC JESSE

BEST SIT-COM COMEDIAN 2013

E1 ONJIRI
E2 WILBRODA
E3 OLEXANDER JOSEPHAT(WINNER)
E4 NJORO
E5 JASTORINA MBOCH

MOST PROMISING COMEDIAN – 2013

F1 DR. KING’ORI
F2 SLEEPY
F3 OBINNA(WINNER)
F4 DR. OFWENEKE
F5 ONJIRI
F6 CHIPUKEEZY

BEST RADIO COMEDIAN – 2013

G1 CLEOPAS AWINJA JPT(WINNER)
G2 WILBRODA
G3 MWALIMU KING’ANG’I
G4 DR. OFWENEKE
G5 JALANG’O

BEST SIT-COM SHOW – 2013

H1 PAPA SHIRANDULA (CITIZEN)
H2 CLASSMATES (K B C )
H3 SIRKAL YA BIBI (K24) (WINNER)
H4 INSPEKTA MWALA (CITIZEN)
H5 VIOJA MAHAKAMANI (K B C )

BEST STAND-UP COMEDY SHOW – 2013

J1 COMEDY CLUB (NTV)
J2 KENYA KONA (KTN)
J3 HOT SEAT (KISS TV)
J4 CHURCHILL SHOW (NTV) (WINNER)
J5.BREAK TIME SHOW (NTV)

MOST COMIC RADIO SHOW – 2013

K1 Q-drive (Q-FM) (WINNER)
K2 MAISHA JIONI (RADIO MAISHA)
K3 MAINA & KING’ANG’I IN THE MORNING (CLASSIC 105)
K4 KITENDAWILI (MILELE FM)
K5 MAISHA ASUBUHI (RADIO MAISHA)
K6 JAMBO KENYA (RADIO CITIZEN)

MOST COMIC REALITY TV SHOW

L1 PATIKANA (KISS TV) (WINNER)
L2 NASWA (CITIZEN)
L3 PASUA (KTN)
L4 WAIWA (K24)
L5 PRANK STARS (NTV)
L6 XYZ (NTV)

BEST VERNACULAR RADIO COMEDIAN

M1 AJO (RADIO RAMOGI)
M2 KIENGEI (KAMEME FM)
M3 GETENA (EGESA FM)
M4 CUCU NYAKAIRU (INOORO FM) (WINNER)
M5 CARO (CHAMGE FM)
M6 SHIFFA (MULEMBE FM)

The nomination of contenders to the various categories was done by a panel of five judges who are thespians in the comedy industry and according to the organizers were none-partisan. The nominees’ selection process was done between19th August, 2013 till 31st August, 2013.

Subsequently, the names of the nominees were submitted to the public through the media for voting via Short Messaging Services (SMS), with Cellulant Kenya who came in as one of the sponsors of the event providing the platform for voting. The voting period began on the 18th of September to the eve of the galla event on Sat 19th October.

The Cheka award was an initiative of Red Liquid Events and Visionaire entertainment and the event attracted a good number of sponsors including ICEA Lion, Nairobi Sports House and Tamic video production among others.

“Comedy in Kenya has really full-fledged to great heights and apparently, no one had so far recognized the great creative minds that have totally so far transformed the entertainment industry in Africa,” said Erick Miterrrand, CEO Red Liquid Events and Promotions.

Comedian Cleophas Awinja carried the day by scooping 3 awards in 3 different categories; BEST RADIO COMEDIAN – 2013, KING OF COMEDY (OTOYO) and Q-Drive, a show he co-hosts with Linda Oriaso scoped the award for the MOST COMIC RADIO SHOW.

The organizers pulled a surprise trophy at the end of the event and awarded it to Churchill aka Daniel Ndambuki, as THE LIFE TIME COMEDIAN MENTOR, an award that was totally well deserved.