When the Smart puppeteers staged their performance at the after 5 street vibe event held in Maasai Market on July 12, many reminisced of the good old days that XYZ, a television show would crack us up.

However, unknown to them, the puppets used for the street performance were made in Nakuru and staged by Nakuru creatives.

Mtaa Wangu caught up with some of the cast on how they got into puppeteering and how they are using this art form to channel messages in the communities.

Watch: Puppets steal the show at the After 5 street vibes event in Nakuru

Faith Khayanga, says she learnt of the puppet manipulation program through Tribeless Youth, after which she enrolled for a year-long course to learn more on puppeteering since November 2023.

Faith Khayanga a member in the smart puppeteers group from Nakuru.

Photo credit: PURITY KINUTHIA/MTAA WANGU

“I love acting and I saw an opportunity to use puppet manipulation to complement my acting skill. I was intrigued by how my friend Pacho, who was part of the first cohort in 2022, created a character from the start and staged a play with it. This Inspired me to take keen interest in puppeteering,” she says.

She notes that through the program she has learned more on script writing and acting which complements puppetry.

Additionally, she notes, puppeteering gives her a chance to play more than one role in a play. Noting that since one does not need to show her face, then she can assume different roles within a play using different puppets.

In an interview with Nasir Pacho, he notes that he has learned a lot from the lead trainer, Peter Musau who has been into puppetry for more than 20 years now.

Nasir Pacho showcasing a head piece he is working on to make a puppet at the Ubuntu creative space on July 15, 2024.

Photo credit: PURITY KINUTHIA/MTAA WANGU

Pacho says it takes them at least three to four days to make puppets to be used for community installation (puppetry shows that go to the community).

“Every puppet tells a different story. Particularly, our performance at Maasai market, the puppets represented protestors in the street alongside police. We showcased a play on police brutality and calling for accountability from our leaders,” he says.

According to Tribeless Youth founder, Shikoh Kihika, the use of puppets has been on for eight years since they formed the organisation.

However, it is the first time to train local puppeteers from Nakuru.

“Puppetry injects a fresh way to tell a story. Other than actors, a singer, rapper or poet can use puppets to stage a performance. This therefore expands Nakuru creatives scope in which artists can tell their stories,” she explains.

Part of the cast hold up puppets they use to stage shows.

Photo credit: PURITY KINUTHIA/MTAA WANGU

Shikoh continues, “The puppetry work runs under the Usani, Uwazi na Uwajibikaji program which focuses on art, transparency and accountability for social justice. The goal is to capacity build artists so that they are able to go back to their community and educate using their talent.”

“We have a lot of puppetry shows that we have been recording and hope to stage a performance around November this year,” she concludes.

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