Kenyan comedian Steve, commonly known by his stage name ‘DJ Shiti’, has revealed the challenges and sacrifices he had to make in order for his career to thrive.
Speaking in the Mic Cheque Podcast, DJ Shiti said that he started with relocating from his home in Nakuru to Nairobi because, for one, the theater they used to use was small, and in their time, in order for an artist to pick you, you needed to be in the city where opportunities were, hence his relocation.
“Kujaribu usanii tuh unajua lazima ugrow. Theater ilikua ndogo. Saa hii vile online imekuja ndio unaeza fanya usanii anywhere.
Lakini kitambo ni lazima ukuje Nairobi ndio umake it saa hii kuna wasee wanafanya usanii from anywhere…so mchezo ilibadilika.” Dj Shiti said:.
He also said that he thought of trying something different than what he was doing so that he wouldn’t bore his fans.
“Na mimi napenda sana kutofanya kitu moja for long…na sipendi nikifanya kitu moja for long, nikifanya hii kitu naenda kwa hii ingine kwa sababu mind ya binadamu imeumbwa kuchoka na kitu…Naks tulifanya maplay maplay.” DJ Shiti shared.
Challenges DJ Shiti went through
Speaking on how he settled in, DJ Shiti admitted that it was not easy because even his close relatives that he thought would help him turned on him. And he ended up being homeless in the city.
‘The Real House Helps of Kawangware‘ actor decided to do it the hard way and focus on what brought him to the city, which is to make his career work, that’s when he went ahead and met a friend who took them in to stay at his place for a night and figure everything else the next day.
Dj Shiti’s journey in settling in the city was not easy because, after doing a gig called ‘Crazy Comedy‘ and having been paid, he was still struggling to stay in the city.
“Kulikua na show ilikua inaitwa Crazy Comedy ya Fred ilikua KTN tukapiga hiyo show tukalipwa thao thao,
In his attempts trying to find a roof, He bumped into a stranger at Ngara, Nairobi, Kenya, who assured him that he would take him somewhere to sleep for the night, Shiti without thinking twice about it gave in and even gave him all that he had made for the day. To his surprise, the anonymous person only took him to Mathare and left him stranded.
After hiyo Gig nilienda Ngara kutafuta place ya kulala…nikameet boy fulani akaniambia nakupeleka mahali udoz but usitoke nje…Akaniitisha dooh yangu akitisha Kenya Cane na chipo…after which akanichukua mathare kufika huko akaniambia acha tupite hapa nibuy weed akabuy alafu akarukia hiyo side.” Dj Shiti Narrated.
The next day, DJ Shiti had made peace that Nairobi was not working for him and decided that he was going to town to meet someone who would help him with transport to return back to his home in Nakuru.
“Kulikua na auditions za Kenya Cone lakini hapo kwa auditions ilikua siendi auditions nilikua niende tao nipatane na mshamba aniwahi fare nirudi tuh Naks. Juu Wanasema, He who surrenders, lives to fight another day. Ilikua ikiwa moto Nairobi unarudi Naks.” DJ Shiti shared.
Apparently what coming to Nairobi did to DJ Shiti then, despite not having gotten lucky to settle in the city soon, was a name, he became famous but was truly broke, he returned to Nakuru to reset and return back strong at which he ended up thriving in ‘The Real House Helps of Kawangware‘ show.