Male comedian playing auntie's role of encouraging children in banditry prone areas

A Kalenjin comedian has embarked on using comedy to offer solace and encouragement to children affected by banditry in the North Rift.

Vitalis Kiplagat,23, who goes by the stage name ‘Senge Helena’ (aunt Helena) is putting smiles on the faces of the children who have borne the full brunt of the runaway insecurity with some of their colleagues being shot dead by the armed bandits.

On a typical day, Mr Kiplagat can be seen dressed in complete lady’s regalia full with a head gear which is resonating well with his audience.

In his sessions to children in the war-ravaged Kerio Valley, Mr Kiplagat who goes by the slogan ‘tos ma Jehovah man ooh?’ (Is it not because of God?), depicts the character of a real Kalenjin tough talking aunt.

“Being an aunt has been a great journey for me. I’m very happy my mentorship is adding life and a smile on the childrens’ faces. Being aunt Helena, they own me and get to hear what I have to tell them,” Mr Kiplagat told AVDelta News in an interview.

During his recent performance at Tot primary school in Elgeyo-Marakwet County, Mr Kiplagat was a big attraction to the pupils who recently lost three of their colleagues after they were shot dead by armed bandits.

Dressed like a real aunt, the comedian took the children through songs and dance as he mentored and encouraged them to work hard in life despite what they are going through.

“I want presidents, lawyers, teachers among other professionals to come from you. Please work hard despite the challenges. Tos ma Jehovah man ooh? (Is it not because of God?),” he told the attentive children.

The Grade 3 pupils Gibson Kirop Maiyo, Shadrack Kiplimo Kiplagat, and Brian Kiptoo were shot dead by armed bandits as they were eating mangoes during lunch hour near their school.

Their deaths brought to over 200, the number of people killed in the past one year in the porous valley, sparking fears in the region.

According to Mr Kiplagat, his initiative has been a very good influence as it has encouraged many children from the banditry ravaged region.

“Mine is just to offer them hope and get over from the trauma and shock of losing their counterparts,” said Mr Kiplagat who was born in Mateget in Nandi County.

But how did the idea of Senge Helena come about?

Kiplagat says that he had done comedy for a long time but his breakthrough was when he realised he had the character of a woman.

“An aunt is your father’s sister and you know what an aunt is. Very aggressive and a tough person, all over,” Kiplagat told AVDelta News.

“I'm very happy that my idea is resonating well with my audience. It has been a breakthrough for me. Apart from doing other things in life, this other me is great,” added the artist who has become a sensation on social media.

Cases of children being the target of armed bandits has been on the rise in the recent past in Kerio Valley.

In April 2023, one(1) person was shot dead after two(2) buses ferrying 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 Elgeyo-Marakwet County.

One of the bus drivers was shot and killed while six(6) pupils and three(3) teachers sustained gunshot wounds. 

And in January 2024, bandits staged a daytime attack at St Benedict Arror Girls in the same county.

A video which went viral showed students hiding under tables after gunshots rent the air nearby as bandits fired in the air as they fled after stealing livestock in the nearby village.

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 in the North Rift ravaged by banditry attacks.

According to Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki, the government has exhausted all means and the time has come to deal with the conflicts experienced in the neighbourhood between Elgeyo 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’ following the killings of and rolled out the security operation conducted by the National Police Service with the help of the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF).

The government has also trained more than 200 National Police Reservists (NPRs) who will assist security personnel in beefing up security in the banditry prone region.