Namwamba booed at Fred Omondi’s fairwell at Carnivore

The Carnivore Simba Lounge in Nairobi hosted an emotional evening as friends, family and fans gathered to pay their respects to the late comedian Fredrick Omondi on the final edition of The Churchill Show.

However, the event took a dramatic turn when the show’s MC Churchill, knowns as Daniel Ndambuki, invited Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba to speak.

The audience welcomed the sports minister with an uproar of disapproval.

Namwamba’s presence at the event overshadowed the ongoing public outcry over the controversial 2024 budget bill, which is currently being considered by the National Assembly before being approved by the president.

Also read: Eric Omondi challenges government officials to cut expenditures

Addressing the crowd, Namwamba faced strong opposition, expressing dissatisfaction with the bill.
CS began his speech: “Hello creators I am here to join you in paying special tribute to these special Kenyans.”

Immediately the booing and screaming started.

However, the CS continued: “I came here with some officials who work in the creative sector. I want to ask them to come here and say something”

The jeers grew louder, prompting Churchill to intervene, but his efforts were futile.

“Hold it… Hold it… hold it… Thanks…I heard you…Wait… Well… We’re doing this for Fred…”, Churchill bitterly tried to calm the charged crowd, who at that point shouted “Ruto must go!” Ruto has to go!” in singing.

Even the DJ’s attempt to play music did not calm the crowd who, earlier this week, had staged a historic protest against the unpopular 2024 bill.

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Namwamba, trying to show courage despite being completely rejected, took the microphone and spoke to the audience, only adding more fuel to the fire. He said: “We understand and appreciate this power. But we will pay tribute to Fredrick Omondi this evening. But whatever noise you make, I say we live in a wonderful country where everyone has the right to express themselves. Thank you very much. Keep clapping, keep crying. Keep saying no as others say yes. But I want to assure today’s creatives that our industry has been neglected for too long and not given enough attention.”

His words, seen as adding salt to the wound, only added to the anger of the crowd. They also did not listen to the host of the show, Churchill, who announced that Cabinet Secretary Namwamba gave Ksh300,000 at a program to honor Fredrick Omondi. Churchill took the microphone again as Namwamba left the stage while being bowed.

The show, dedicated to raising funds and celebrating the life of Omondi, who tragically died in a road accident last Saturday, saw an outpouring of love and grief from the participants. Namwamba later took to social media to pay tribute to Omondi and announced the government’s commitment to the industry.

“Freddie’s amazing talent, taken from us is too small. Fred’s films, like those of our other creators, reflect the strong democratic culture of Kenya, which is among others Article 37 of the constitution, which we will cherish and protect Jealousy is the cornerstone of our country’s stability,” Namwamba said in his statement.

“When the emotions subside, the blinders fall and the truth emerges from the fiction, the truth will emerge: the truth that we have a nation to build, a role that each of us has a role to play. Including the responsibility to pay taxes for the satisfaction of the nation,” Namwamba said.

He added: “I am happy that the creative economy is a pillar at the center of the country’s economic transformation plan. The funding will also enable strong initiatives such as the #WhozNext transformation project for Kenyan creatives.”