Timothy Kimani Ndegwa, popularly known as Njugush, is among the best Kenyan comedians who are making moves in the comedy industry.
Njugush, however, revealed his journey to the top was not a smooth sail as he encountered numerous challenges, among them rejections.
Describing his journey to fame as the epitome of determination, Njugush recalled numerous instances of being rejected, but this did not deter him from accomplishing his goals.
“Actually, I knocked on several doors and faced numerous rejections. However, I always believed that one day I would break through,” he told Nairobi News.
He revealed his life changed for the better after an encounter with content creator Abel Mutua, who offered him an acting job.
Njugush: This was my first monthly salary on Tv
“I met Abel Mutua, who was looking for someone to host a new show he had launched. He saw how funny I was and saw potential in me. He reached out and told me he was looking for a ‘stupid’ person.” He said.
“After three episodes, people started getting curious about my identity. I didn’t have a name at the time, so after much consideration, they settled for Njugush.’’ He added.
The two started working together in 2013 on the Hapa Kule show, which attracted a lot of attention, further adding to Njugush’s popularity.
Njugush later quit to join the popular TV comedy-drama The Real House Helps of Kawangware, where he became a household name. He admitted that his success was fuelled by many failures and mistakes.
“A lot of things in my life have been mistakes, but they ultimately worked out for the better.”
He encouraged young content creators to push and embrace perseverance, as nothing good comes easy.
“Let us not give up… let’s continue pushing until we make ends meet,” Njugush advised.
Njugush rise
Despite the hardships, Njugush is among the richest Kenyan comedians who have had successful careers in comedy.
He runs his businesses alongside his wife Celestine Ndinda and together they have build a portfolio in various sectors including entertainment, transport and real estate, among others.
Njugush started at The Real House-helps of Kawangware show a couple of years back. He took a bold step to leave and start his own comedy venture.
His move has since paid off, with his shows and corporate endorsements and sponsorships raking in millions of money for his brand.
As part of their business empire, the power couple run the highly successful Through Thick and Thin comedy series. In July 2024 for instance, the couple pulled off one of Kenya’s most successful entertainment shows in Nairobi.
The show that was dubbed as Through Thick and Thin 5 (TTNT 5) had a capacity for 6,000 attendees. It was all sold out.
Tickets for the show ranged from Sh1,000 for students, Sh1,500 for regular, and Sh3,500 for the VIP section. All the tickets were sold out hours before the show kicked off at the Sarit Centre Expo.
In the transport sector, the couple owns two matatus operating under Super Metro Sacco. The matatus named after their two sons Tugi and Toria were acquired in 2024 and 2025, respectively.
