{{Short description|Kenyan comedian, radio presenter, and MC (born 1990)}} {{Notability|Biography|date=June 2023}} {{Infobox comedian <!-- for individuals - see Template:Infobox comedian for usage --> | pre-nominals = | name = Chipukeezy | post-nominals = | image = | image_size = | alt = | caption = | pseudonym = | birth_name = Vincent Mwasia Mutua | native_name = | native_name_lang = | birth_date = {{birth date and age |1990|11|01}} | birth_place = Machakos County | nationality = <!-- use only when necessary per WP:INFONAT --> | education = | alma_mater = East African School of Media Studies | years_active = 2013–present | employer = | genre = | subject = <!-- Use |subjects= if plural --> | spouse = | domestic_partner = | children = | parents = | relatives = | notable_works = ''Chipukeezy Show'' | memorials = | signature = | website = | footnotes = | module = }} '''Vincent Mwasia Mutua''' (born November 1, 1990),<ref>{{Cite web |last=Osoro |first=Yul Vincent |date=2020-08-04 |title=Chipukeezy: All about the NACADA director |url=https://www.tuko.co.ke/371171-chipukeezy-bio-age-real-girlfriend-education-career.html |access-date=2023-06-12 |website=Tuko.co.ke - Kenya news. |language=en}}</ref> known professionally as '''Chipukeezy''', is a Kenyan comedian, radio presenter, and MC. He rose to prominence when he joined the cast of the Churchill Show in 2013. In 2018, he ventured into hosting his own show, the ''Chipukeezy Show'', which aired on Ebru TV until 2019.<ref name=":0" /> In 2021, he was elected as the vice chairperson of the National Authority for the Campaign Against Drug Abuse.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-03-24 |title=Comedian Chipukeezy appointed new NACADA Vice Chairperson |url=https://www.pulselive.co.ke/entertainment/celebrities/comedian-chipukeezy-appointed-as-the-new-nacada-vice-chairperson/wqw0k85 |access-date=2023-06-12 |website=Pulselive Kenya |language=en}}</ref>
== Early life and education == After high school, he participated in local theater productions, acting in adaptations of popular literary works. He gained recognition as the warm seat narrator for the entertainment show ''Heartstrings'', with eight appearances, and was invited twice to the hot seat for two-hour segments.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kanja |first=Sheila |date=2014-02-27 |title=Chipukeezy On Hot Seat At Hilton |url=https://www.ghafla.com/chipukeezy-on-hot-seat-at-hilton/ |access-date=2023-06-12 |website=Ghafla! |language=en-US}}</ref>
He later joined East African School of Media Studies.
== Career == In 2013, Chipukeezy joined the ''Churchill Show'', a renowned comedy show that aired on NTV. He established a notable presence through his performances and became a regular participant in subsequent episodes.
Chipukeezy hosted East Africa's Comedy Tuesday, a notable comedy event held at the Kenya National Theatre in Nairobi in 2016. The event featured a lineup of East African comedians, including Eric Omondi, Dr Ofweneke, Eddie Butita, Idris Sultan, and Captain Khalid from Tanzania.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chipukeezy hosts East Africa's biggest comedy names a Nairobi show |url=https://www.the-star.co.ke/sasa/word-is/2016-04-06-chipukeezy-hosts-east-africas-biggest-comedy-names-a-nairobi-show/ |access-date=2023-06-13 |website=The Star |language=en-KE}}</ref>
He later departed from ''Churchill Show'' and embarked on a new venture by establishing his own television show, titled ''Chipukeezy Show'', which aired on the Kenyan TV channel Ebru TV.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kamau |first=Richard |date=2018-03-21 |title=Watch: What You Can Expect From Chipukeezy's Upcoming Show [Trailer] |url=https://nairobiwire.com/2018/03/watch-can-expect-chipukeezys-upcoming-show-trailer.html |access-date=2023-06-13 |website=Nairobi Wire |language=en-US}}</ref> It garnered substantial success, spanning multiple seasons and serving as a platform for Kenyan youth and artists. It played a pivotal role in catapulting the careers of artists such as Stevo Simple Boy. In 2019, a disagreement arose between Chipukeezy and Ebru TV, prompting the show to make a transition to TV47 Kenya.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Chipukeezy Set to Move His Show to New TV Station |url=https://www.switchtv.ke/mobile/read-article/186-Chipukeezy-Set-to-Move-His-Show-to-New-TV-Station |access-date=2023-06-13 |website=Switch TV Kenya}}</ref>
Chipukeezy co-hosted the 2017 African Muzik Magazine Awards, alongside Nigerian Comedian Basketmouth in Dallas.<ref>{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=2017-09-04 |title=Organisers announce Basketmouth, Chipukeezy as hosts of AFRIMMA 2017 |url=https://guardian.ng/news/organisers-announce-basketmouth-chipukeezy-as-hosts-of-afrimma-2017/ |location=Lagos, Nigeria|access-date=2023-06-13 |newspaper=The Guardian|language=en-US}}</ref>
In 2018, Chipukeezy was appointed as a member of the board of directors at the National Authority for the Campaign Against Drug Abuse (NACADA)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ngina |first=Fay |title=Chipukeezy appointed as a Director at NACADA |url=https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/ureport/article/2001283206/chipukeezy-appointed-as-a-director-at-nacada |access-date=2023-06-13 |website=The Standard |language=en}}</ref> by the then Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta.<ref>{{Cite web |last=NDONGA |first=SIMON |date=2018-06-07 |title=Uhuru appoints comedian Chipukeezy to NACADA board » Capital News |url=https://www.capitalfm.co.ke/news/2018/06/uhuru-appoints-comedian-chipukeezy-nacada-board/ |access-date=2023-06-13 |website=Capital News |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2021, Chipukeezy was elected the vice chairperson of the Authority.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-03-25 |title=Chipukeezy elected Nacada Board Vice Chairperson |url=https://nation.africa/kenya/news/chipukeezy-elected-nacada-board-vice-chairperson-3335870 |access-date=2023-06-13 |website=Nation |language=en}}</ref>
He was nominated for the Best Africa's Comedian Category alongside Eric Omondi at the African Entertainment Awards USA (AEUSA) in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-10-17 |title=Kenyan Comedians Eric Omondi and Chipukeezy Nominated to Head-to-Head Contest with Africa's Best - Kenyans.co.ke |url=https://www.kenyans.co.ke/news/34038-kenyan-comedians-eric-omondi-and-chipukeezy-nominated-head-head-contest-africas-best |access-date=2023-06-13 |website=www.kenyans.co.ke |language=EN}}</ref>
In 2021, Chipukeezy embarked on "The Celebrity Fish Tour USA," a tour held in the United States and hosted by Nigerian comedian Patrick Onyeke. It spanned four months and featured performances by a group of African comedians. On the tour, Chipukeezy had the opportunity to meet and engage with renowned American comedians, such as Katt Williams and Mark Curry.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-10-30 |title=Chipukeezy cracks jokes with American comedians Katt Williams and Mark Curry |url=https://www.pulselive.co.ke/entertainment/chipukeezy-is-currently-in-us-hanging-out-with-comedians-katt-williams-and-mark-curry/59z9pj1 |access-date=2023-06-13 |website=Pulselive Kenya |language=en}}</ref> In 2023, he relaunched the ChipukeezyShow.
== Personal life == In 2018, Chipukeezy and his fiancé Vivian Mandera, popularly known as Empress Kerry, ended their engagement and parted ways after a three-year relationship.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Digital |first=Standard |title=Chipukeezy dumps girlfriend Empress Kerry, wishes her well |url=https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/entertainment/news/article/2001302818/chipukeezy-dumps-girlfriend-empress-kerry-wishes-her-well |access-date=2023-06-13 |website=Standard Entertainment |language=en}}</ref>
His grandfather, Kilian Kakonzi Kithui, died in 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-12-19 |title=Chipukeezy in mourning |url=https://www.pulselive.co.ke/entertainment/chipukeezy-mourns-death-of-his-grandfather-kilian-kakonzi-kithui/jjzqlev |access-date=2023-06-13 |website=Pulselive Kenya |language=en}}</ref> The news of his grandfather's death was met with condolences from various individuals, including the then Deputy President William Ruto.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-12-27 |title=DP Ruto's condolence message to Chipukeezy and Family |url=https://www.pulselive.co.ke/entertainment/dp-ruto-joins-kenyans-in-mourning-the-death-of-chipukeezys-grandfather-mzee-killian/3l1r77d |access-date=2023-06-13 |website=Pulselive Kenya |language=en}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
Category:1990 births Category:Living people Category:Kenyan comedians Category:Kenyan radio presenters