When MCA Tricky auditioned for the Churchill Show, he was given three opportunities to prove his talent.He introduced his comedy persona as a “chokora” (street kid).
MCA Tricky later shared how he developed this character during a conversation with Oga Obinna. He explained, “The idea to portray a chokora was straightforward. I had done my research—jokes, performances—to understand what to bring to the table. I noticed that every comedian on stage focused on their appearance. So I thought, why not do the opposite? I wanted to create a vibe that no one else was thinking of representing. My decision was also influenced by personal challenges that nearly pushed me onto the streets. In fact, the character I played was based on a real friend of mine who was a chokora.”
This character was inspired by his experiences at Uhuru Park, where they would pass the time and strategize about life.
“My friend would make me laugh so much with his stories. So I thought, why not turn this into a character and take it to the stage? I wasn’t sure if it would work.”
He auditioned for Churchill, and that’s where MCA Tricky was born. The judges were impressed with the character, particularly his signature dirty coat that embodied the chokora look.
However, his iconic coat was stolen.
“I was living in Ruiru, and one day, it was stolen from the clothesline. I had to go back to Gikosh to find another one,” he recalled.
At the time, MCA Tricky was a second-year student at Kenyatta University, studying Mechanical Engineering. His character, however, faced some criticism.
“Some people were waiting for me to fail. I’m not sure why. Many questioned whether I was mocking street kids, taking advantage of them, or using their situation for sympathy. Some even claimed that people only laughed at my jokes out of pity.”
