'Kunda Ngutume': Kikuyu comedy play shines spotlight on corruption in public hospitals

Kunda Ngutûme, a Kikuyu comedy play presented by Andu A Mumbi Entertainment, explores themes of corruption, complicity, understaffing, negligence, and other normalised malpractices in a story set in a public hospital.

Loosely translated into Sip I Send You, the play is produced by Wangui wa Ngina; the play will be staged on July 31 and August 1 at the Jalaram Auditorium in Westlands, Nairobi.

The play tells a story of Dr Shad (Salim Gichia), a government head doctor at Mother Shammar Clinics. He has been diverting donor funds intended to improve the facility into his private clinic. The donations were meant to address persistent complaints from clinical officers about government neglect and the hospital's deteriorating conditions.

Dr Shad makes desperate attempts to cover up his corruption, aided by Nurse Nora (Polyann Njeri), after he receives news that the donors will be visiting the hospital for an inspection. Gichia says that he was intrigued by Dr Shad's complexity and the opportunity to explore the consequences of corruption and abuse of trust.

To prepare for the role, he researched how doctors communicate and conduct themselves, such as how they portray confidence, authority and professionalism. He says the play delivers a powerful message about the dangers of corruption within the healthcare system.

"One of the biggest challenges was believably portraying a corrupt doctor without making the character seem unrealistic. I want audiences to understand that corruption hides behind respectable titles and appearances," he says.

The role also offered personal and professional growth for the actor, who is returning to the stage after a five-year break.

"Portraying Dr Shad reminded me that actors have a responsibility to use storytelling to spark conversations about important social issues," he said.

Playwright and director Dival Gathoni says the title of the play is about people who follow others in exchange for favours in drinking settings. She explains that corruption in the healthcare system was chosen as the main theme for its seriousness that needs public attention and discussion.

"Though it's a fictional story, it resonates with situations that occur in real life. In this context, we are all Kunda Ngutûmes; only the level varies," she says.

Gathoni says that through Dr Shad, the play shows how people can be pushed into unexpected choices under difficult circumstances. Nurse Nora, who is involved in covering up wrongdoing, is depicted as a victim of circumstance, and it raises questions about institutional complicity.

While the play examines these serious issues, she says that it also incorporates humour since this is the Kenyan way of processing difficult experiences.

"We are a funny nation. We know how to find humour in everything. It's our way of healing," she notes.

Gathoni says the production is both entertainment and advocacy, encouraging audiences to reflect while calling for change in the healthcare system. She adds that theatre is an effective platform for addressing governance and public service failures because it engages audiences directly.

"Theatre is a sober platform. You have more than 200 people seated per show with no distractions. It is easy to pass a message, and it also allows immediate reactions and interactions," she says.