‘I’M NOT A RICH MZUNGU’ KEMIKAL STAR DARREN COLLINS DISCLOSES HOW HE LANDED HIS ROLE ON VIRAL VIDEO

By Kevin Koech | October 11, 2021

Actor and puppeteer Darren Collins has been in the limelight after acting on Terence Creative’s viral ‘Wash Wash’ video where he landed a magician role. In a sit-down interview with Buzz Central’s Cheptoek Boyo, Darren opened up about moving to Kenya, his career as a magician and his relationship status. 

Are you Kenyan?

I’m not Kenyan, I was actually born and raised in the USA but I have been living here for about six years. My first visit was about 10 years ago in 2012. I came here to do research on HIV/AIDS prevention education using puppetry and the performing arts in storytelling. I was trying to find out the efficacy and the possibility of implementing such a program in Kenya where we would teach about HIV and Aids. 

What made you come and stay?

I found a partner with the Rotary Club of Nairobi and I was coming from the Rotary Club of Desoto and I was invited to come and that is what made me stay. I think it’s a good idea to be invited before you go live somewhere. 

How is Kenya treating you so far? 

It’s great, I very much enjoy it. I love the people, the language, the food and the environment. It feels very good. My body feels good in Nairobi, the elevation, the temperature and the environment in general, I feel like I’m thriving in Kenya.

How did you land your role on the ‘Kemikal’ video? 

I landed the role because I’m a white guy who is available and I happen to know Terence Creative. Terence and I go way back so, back in 2012 when I was doing my research I started doing comedy with Terence and Fred Omondi. I was doing magic in the CBD just to make some extra cash. Terence and I worked together quite a bit and in that process he decided that I was the right guy for the role. When he calls I just say yes, I don’t have any questions .

Did you rehearse for your role? 

There is no rehearsing with Terence, the way he shoots things is contrary to everything I do normally. It’s an act of faith to work with him. On the last set we had 50 people and there was no sheet of paper, we don’t usually know what our character is about until he tells us.

How much were you paid? 

I think that’s a personal question you should ask Terence if he wants to reveal that information. We have had a great working relationship for years. 

What has been your best experience now that a lot of people know you? 

The experience is not different from life in general as a foreigner living in Kenya. Every single day people recognise me because they usually mistake me for a guy named ‘Mzungu’ or apparently this famous guy named Kamau that I look just like so people are always talking to me. But now, they have something specific to relate to, ‘the Wash Wash guy’. It’s the same amount of attention but it’s just coming from a different place which is way better. 

Have you ever been conned in Kenya? 

There’s been some attempts at conning me. I’ve never actually completed a con there’s definitely plenty of people who have tried to con me but the business that I’m in is education using performing arts and my background is a professional magician, a juggler and puppeteer and so I know how deception works and so there are some pretty obvious red flags that someone is trying to con you. 

What is the worst experience that has happened to you while working in Kenya? 

I took a job once and it was actually a good paying job. I was hired to be an Italian grape farmer who would walk into pubs all around the country late at night with the promotions company and I had a big barrel over my arm because they needed a white guy to pretend to be an Italian. I had to go into these places where guys did not want to see a white guy dressed up like a goofy cartoon character, there were parts of the country where people would be angry because I had to run a contest. The contest was people would pick a key out of the treasure box and this key may or may not open this giant barrel I was holding. If it opened they would get free booze and everyone was happy but if it didn’t open I got yelled at and told to go back to my home country, some dudes spit on me and it was so bad.

What’s the one misconception people have about you being a white person in Kenya?

That I must be rich. There’s probably not a lot of white guys in this country who are not rich but I’m an artiste so I’ve come here to teach the art and help my crew here to raise their ability as artistes. The white guys that are here are either from old money or they are government workers who are making American wages here or businessmen but I don’t fit any of those qualifications. I’m a blue collar worker, when people see me driving a Probox they wonder and I think for women it is hard because they are like you can’t afford that restaurant? I’m like no. I also hustle and run out of money, you will find me in a matatu around the 27th.

Are you single, married or dating? 

I’m single and dating. I have never been married, I don’t have children, I’ve been travelling for a very long time. This is the longest I’ve stayed in a place and I feel it’s safe to start meeting people and going to dinner.

How do you find the dating scene in Kenya?

It’s great, there are really interesting people and I enjoy meeting different ladies. There’s really a lot of cool people. It’s been a really nice experience actually. I’ve made a lot of friends, some relationships don’t work out and some turn into great friendships. It has been tough through covid but I have only met two psychopaths but at least I’m not buried under a water tank.