Leaders of the teen republik

Local programme line- ups do not really offer much by way of exclusive teen entertainment, lifestyle or magazine shows.

The ones on television fail to leave any long lasting impression on their audiences. Simply put, they are hosted by good looking people, some with forced accents, who fail to catch their audience’s attention. They are boring.

NTV’s Teen Republik hit the screen in 2012, a breath of fresh air, so to speak, when all there ever was to watch on Saturday mornings were cartoons and children’s educational programmes.

Soul singer and radio host Anto Neosoul and now radio news presenter Anita Nderu were the first hosts of the entertainment and lifestyle show.

Anita Nderu was the first to leave the show, when she moved to Capital FM. She was replaced by Maureen Muhia, whose stint on the show lasted  only a couple of months. Following in the footsteps of his former co-hosts, Anto Neosoul left as well since the show was not taking the direction he had envisioned.

Then, late last year, the show found a new host, Martin Kimathi, who has been touted as the shows eye candy for female fans. But even with Kimathi  on board, there was still a challenge getting him a  suitable co-host.

PERFECT CHEMISTRY

It’s been a long tumultuous process bringing the show back to what it originally was, when  Nderu expertly reported on fashion trends, celebrity interviews and gossip news. But finally, a female co-host, Tracy Wanjiru, has been found for the show.

While the two are relatively new to television, they have both had a taste of working in the media before, Kimathi more than Wanjiru. Kimathi is not new to the entertainment scene; he was previously an entertainment reporter at One FM.

Tracy, on the other hand, had an online show dealing with all things fashion alongside Vanessa Nderu, Anita Nderu’s sister. Wanjiru was also the love interest in Kagwe Mungai’s video for the song, Biggest Fan.

Prior to co-hosting the show, Kimathi and Wanjiru reveal that they were friends and it was easy for Kimathi to pitch her as the perfect co-host. But just because they were friends does not mean she got favourable treatment, she had to audition for the spot just like the rest of the girls.

“I don’t know why I got picked; maybe you should ask Martin, he might know the reason. But I was just as nervous as the other people lining up for the screen test. In total, we were about 10 girls,” says Wanjiru.

“She was the complete package the show was looking for,” says Kimathi.

Their friendship outside the office did not translate to onscreen chemistry right away.  To make it seamless and effortless, the producers suggested that they have bonding sessions just to make things flow better during recording.

“The producers thought we needed to bond more, so we started hanging out often and getting comfortable with each other. We also got to learn each other’s personalities. We are still learning,” says Kimathi.

While on the show, Kimathi and Wanjiru have learnt to read each other’s moods. They say they are always not hyped up as they appear to be on the show and sometimes need to pick each other up when one of them is having a bad day.

Wanjiru insists that they always have to put their best foot forward and have a great show no matter what. Kimathi, who is very critical of everything he does pertaining to the show says they are only as good as their last episode and they always have to perfect it.

Being the hosts of an entertainment programme that focuses on music, the hottest trends and what’s happening in the celebrity world does not make them vain or vapid. The segment, Your Hood, takes them to different neighbourhoods in the city looking for exceptionally talented teenagers and the co-hosts say interacting with other teens has been eye opening.

PRESSURE OF THE JOB

“Often, we forget to be thankful and gracious about the opportunities that have been accorded to us. There are people out here who are struggling but are using their talent and skills to get by and doing amazing things,” says Kimathi.

“Anyone can become great regardless of where they come from. Don’t let your current circumstances determine your future,” says Wanjiru.

The show has had  a significant effect on their lives. Whereas before they would go about their lives unnoticed in public, they are now aware of their surroundings and what they do in public.

“There is pressure to act in a certain way, you can’t act crazy and you always have to look good whenever you walk out of the house. But my life hasn’t changed that much because I don’t like sharing my life on social media. I’m a bit reserved now and I’m always thinking about work or planning the next show,” she says

Kimathi has only deepened his interest in learning about people, which also translates into more thought into his work.

“People expect you to be different, they don’t expect you to take a matatu or be seen at a fast-food joint because you are on TV. They don’t know the pressure that comes with this job, the research and fact finding,” he says.

Kimathi and Wanjiru are confident that through Teen Republik, they  represent teenagers across the country. The show has been shaky on the hosting front, but they give credit to the hosts who came before them.

However, they maintain that they are fresh and have surpassed people’s expectations regarding their ability to take the show forward.