Comedian Timothy Kimani, popularly known as Njugush, sold out the Sarit Expo Centre on August 1 for the sixth edition of his annual stand-up show, Through Thick and Thin (TTNT6), his first time hosting the event without co-host Celestine Ndinda, known to fans as Wakavinye.
The two announced their separation on Instagram in April, after 14 years together and two children, saying they had decided to part ways “after careful thought and with mutual respect” and asking for privacy as they continued co-parenting. Ndinda had co-hosted and co-promoted every previous TTNT edition alongside Njugush.
Fans at Sarit Expo noticed the change immediately, and some had held out hope Ndinda would make a surprise appearance. She did not, and several attendees told entertainment outlets afterward that they were disappointed by her absence. Njugush addressed the show without dwelling on it, focusing instead on the set and the crowd, which reportedly chanted “wantam” (a colloquial call for an encore) throughout the night.
The show still delivered the spectacle TTNT has built its reputation on. Fellow comedians and actors Eddie Butita and Abel Mutua, both longtime collaborators of Njugush, turned up with their partners, and photos from the red carpet drew attention for the group’s fashion choices as much as the performances that followed.
TTNT began as a smaller stand-up night and has grown each year into one of Nairobi’s biggest comedy tickets, with Njugush now consistently filling large venues. This year’s sellout, despite the changed lineup on stage, suggests the show’s pull has as much to do with Njugush’s own following as it did with the format he and Ndinda built together.
