• Academic success came while his family was playing cat and mouse with chief
Image: WILFRED NYANGARESI
Comedian Kazungu Matano, popularly known as Captain Otoyo, says he is a product of hard work and goodwill.
Speaking on Churchill Show, Otos, as he's referred to, said he wore underwear for the first time while joining form one.
"I was a fair student because I wanted a bright future. I was among the best pupils in class 8. I did not wait until the results were out," he said.
His mother sold illicit brew to put food on the table. "I mean, all kinds of illicit brew. Our job as the children was to make sure it was safe for our mum to prepare and sold," he said.
"We would whistle in a special way to alert the customers and our mum to hide the brew."
One day in the morning, the chief came to his home accompanied by two administrative police because of the work his mother did. They knew it was bad.
"We all ran away from the compound, fearing we would be arrested," he said.
When evening came, they had no option but to go back home. The chief had not given up on looking for them and all his mother did was to explain that the children were the reason she was selling the illicit brew.
The chief asked to know who Otoyo was and afraid, his mother pointed at him. "I was picked and I did not know what was going on." That is when the chief mentioned that he was among the best children.
"School fees was not available but the chief was so interesting. He was happy for me and so he organised a harambee with no politician or any big person but the villagers came together," he said.
"I am a community child. People brought their chicken, maize and so on. That is when I experienced barter trade. People auctioned their property."
Luckily, Otoyo managed to get a bursary courtesy of the chief, but all the other stuff were bought by the villagers. "I had never worn shoes in my entire life or underwear. I managed to go to school and the rest is history," he said.
Captain Otoyo is one of the best comedians in Kenya.