Former Churchill Show comedian Gilbert Barasa popularly known as Mtumishi talked candidly with Trudy Kitui about the reasons behind his breakup with Mchungaji.
He explained that the fundamental reason for their split was the inevitable progression of their individual and professional development. As time went on, their goals separated, and they went down separate paths.
“Growth comes and you have to accept growth, years come and my race is not his and his is not mine but if you need the two of us you can have the two of us,” Mtumishi explained, highlighting the amicable nature of their separation.
The comedian disclosed that he was in charge of a program called “The Amazing Show,” where he aims to discover up-and-coming talent, but he declined to comment on what his comedy partner was into.
Mtumishi stated he was now good with his parents but did not go into further detail about their relationship at this time. This was in reference to his significant revelation from 2023 regarding his tense relationship with his mother.
Former Churchill Show comedian Mtumishi opens up about past criminal life
The Former Churchill Show comedian also opened up about his past criminal life.
Speaking during a TV interview, the outspoken comedian stated that he was recruited into a criminal gang when he dropped out of high school over lack of fees.
“They said I either had to join the gang or die. We started carjacking vehicles in Nairobi. We would be given intelligence about certain cars or targets and we would execute the orders,” he revealed.
Narrating on how he got caught up in the criminal lifestyle, the comedian, who married in a colorful wedding in 2015, revealed that he was drawn into crime after noticing one of his friends who resided in Kawangware always had the latest gadgets and trendy clothes.
The friend took Barasa to his house and as they were talking a gang joined them. They explained that since he had been exposed to their plans, he had to join the gang.
“We used to party and travel but kept looking over our shoulders. I used to charter flights to Mombasa and entertain women with the money,” he added.
Opening up on the experience, Barasa vividly narrated how on one particular day, they mistook the number plates of the target car they had been given and pounced on flying squad officers by mistake.
“The group that was on the side noticed the police and took off leaving very few of us. The police came out and overpowered us. They beat us mercilessly with electric cables and intimidated us with their guns. I thought I was going to die and I said my last prayer,” the comedian narrated.
The gang was taken to the police station and interrogated. The police officers then let them go with a warning that the next time they crossed paths they would be shot dead. After that incident, Mtumishi said he swore to change his life.
Touching on other incidents in his past life, he explained that money obtained from crime did not improve his life – revealing that he would get huge amounts of money including one heist where he was paid Ksh2 million.
“When I quit crime, I went to Mombasa to reflect on my life. When I came back to Nairobi, I only had Ksh 200 in my pocket. I hitched a ride on a lorry all the way home,” the comedian recalled.
He started rebuilding his life by working at a construction site and later became a security guard. Earlier, Mtumishi and his stage counterpart Mchungaji, claimed the recent cases of fellow comedians falling into depression was as a result of leading a fake lifestyle.
The two comedians, who rose to fame through the Churchill Show, revealed that societal pressure had pushed some of their colleagues to live beyond their means.
