Mulamwah, whose real name is David Oyando, is among the most celebrated comedians in Kenya. He is also an MC, actor, radio presenter, and social media influencer.
Aside from comedy, Mulamwah has never been shy of flaunting his wealth. For instance, he recently elicited online debates over a Ksh 10 million mansion he is reportedly building in Kitale.
He also revealed how he has invested in the transport sector by owning 15 boda bodas in Trans Nzoia, which reportedly bring him Ksh 100 000 per month.
The comedian is also on record for casually mentioning that his phone carries between Ksh 500,000 to Ksh 1 million shillings at any given time.
To crown it all, he recently flaunted wads of cash online and claimed he was going to use the money to buy his first-ever piece of land.
These moments of ostentation may paint a picture of effortless success, but in a recent interview with the Iko Nini podcast, Mulamwah revealed that his journey to his current wealth was not as rosy as many may think.
His comedic journey began during his student days at Moi University, where, during one Christian fellowship meeting, students were called to introduce themselves.
When it was his turn, Mulamwah’s distinctive Luhya accent sent the audience into fits of laughter, and he realized he had a gift for comedy.
From then on, whenever there was a Christian fellowship meeting, Mulamwah would always be invited to say something and was always guaranteed to leave the audience in stitches.
It wasn’t long before he began crafting his comedic talent and started performing at stand-up comedy shows. His talent blossomed, and soon he was in demand to entertain crowds at events such as weddings and other gatherings.
His first major event to perform was at renowned gospel musician Emmy Kosgei’s album launch, where he won the crowd over with his humor. This success led to more invitations to perform at weddings, road shows, and various events.
He then teamed up with other standup comedians, where they would organize comedy shows and charge sh 50 – 70 for entrances.
During his fourth year, Mulamwah decided to try for the Churchill auditions. “I would skip all Tuesday classes to attend the auditions at Carnivore. Sometimes, I even missed exams. I went for auditions for three years without success,” he recounted.
After campus, Mulamwah, who was studying nursing, got an internship position at Kenyatta National Hospital, but found his passion lay elsewhere.
He frequently skipped work to attend Churchill auditions at Carnivore and began recording skits on his phone, sharing them on WhatsApp.
One of these clips, dubbed Potassium Potangamate, went viral, catching the attention of comedian Daniel Ndambuki (Churchill), who started sharing Mulamwah’s videos.
To establish his own identity, Mulamwah adopted his now-iconic name, a playful spin on the famous rapper Kendrick Lamar. With his videos gaining traction, he was featured in National newspapers as one of the fastest-rising comedians.
This paved the way for radio interviews and he eventually clinched a spot on Churchill Show, wowing audiences and becoming a regular performer.
Embracing the digital age, Mulamwah ventured into YouTube, where, according to him, his first YouTube paycheck was an impressive 700,000 shillings.
“When I opened my YouTube channel, I copyrighted my voice. And because my clips already had millions of views on other people’s YouTube channels, I was paid for them,” said Mulamwah.
He worked as a nurse intern for one year. By the end of his internship, his clips had already gone viral. By now, he had garnered thousands of followers on social media and could now be considered an influencer.
He then started receiving endorsements from brands. “I worked for so many companies and brands that I couldn’t even keep track of them. I did not make my first million. Rather, I made my first ksh 3 million from brand endorsements,” he said.
His first major brand was Kenya Cane. According to Mulamwah, the company paid him a handsome Ksh 500,000 per month to advertise their products. From there, he started receiving contracts worth millions and above.
As of today, Mulamwah is the brand ambassador for several brands, including alcohol and gambling companies. He is currently a presenter at Milele FM and the owner of Mulamwah Entertainment, a record label.
