A Kalenjin comedian has started an initiative to console and encourage children affected by banditry in the North Rift using comedy.
Vitalis Kiplagat, 23, who goes by the stage name ‘Senge Helena’ (aunt Helena) is putting smiles on faces of children who have borne the brunt of runaway insecurity.
Some of the children have witnessed their friends being shot dead by bandits.
To execute his task, Kiplagat depicts the character of a tough talking Kalenjin aunt.
He wears a dress complete with a head scarf to appeal to his audience and uses the slogan ‘tos ma Jehovah man ooh?’ (Is it not because of God?).
“Being an aunt has been a great journey for me. I’m very happy my mentorship is giving life and putting a smile on the children’s faces. Playing aunt Helena makes them own me and want to hear what I have to say,” Kiplagat told the Star during an interview.
His most recent performance at Tot Primary School in Elgeiyo-Marakwet county put a smile on faces of pupils who lost three of their colleagues to bandits.
The Grade 3 pupils – Gibson Maiyo, Shadrack Kiplagat and Brian Kiptoo – were shot dead by armed bandits while eating mangoes during lunch near the school.
Their deaths brought to more than 200, the number of people killed in the past nine months by bandits.
In his regalia, the comedian led the children through songs and dance as he mentored and encouraged them to work hard in life.
“I want presidents, lawyers and teachers to come from you. Please work hard despite the challenges. Tos ma Jehovah man ooh?. (Is it not because of God?),” Kiplagat said.
Kiplagat said his initiative has been of good influence as it has given many children hope.
“Mine is just to give them hope and help them get over from the trauma and shock of losing their friends,” he said.
Kiplagat was born in Mateget in Nandi county. But how did the idea of Senge Helena come about?
“An aunt is your father’s sister. Aunts are known to be very aggressive and very tough,” he said.
“I'm very happy that my idea is resonating well with my audience. It has been a breakthrough for me.”
Kiplagat is not only popular among children but has also become a social media sensation.
Cases of children being targets of armed bandits have been on the rise in the recent past in Kerio Valley.
In April last year, one person was shot dead after two buses carrying students were ambushed by armed criminals.
The buses which were carrying students of Tot and Mogil Secondary Schools were attacked by gun wielding bandits at Chesuman near Arror in Elgeiyo-Marakwet county.
One of the bus drivers was killed while six pupils and three teachers sustained gunshot wounds.
In January, bandits staged a daytime attack at St Benedict Arror Girls in Elgeiyo-Marakwet county.
A video which went viral showed students hiding under tables as bandits fired in the air as they fled after stealing livestock in a nearby village.
The Star established that the bandits who were on an attack mission ambushed a rider and his passenger along Tot-Chesongoch Road, shot them and left them for the dead, before fleeing towards Tiaty in the neighbouring Baringo county.
The attacks forced the government to impose a 30-day curfew and launched a massive disarmament operation in Kerio Valley and other areas.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki said the government has exhausted all means and the time has come to deal with the conflicts experienced in Elgeiyo Marakwet, West Pokot and Baringo counties with unprecedented firmness.
The government termed six banditry-prone counties in the North Rift among them Turkana, West Pokot, Elgeyo Marakwet, Baringo, Laikipia and Samburu as ‘disturbed’ and ‘dangerous.
Security operations in the counties are conducted by the National Police Service and the Kenya Defence Forces.
More than 200 trained National Police Reservists who will assist security personnel to beef up security.
