The Hypochondriac (Mgonjwa Mwitu) is a modern interpretation of Moliere’s classic comedy play, widely considered a masterpiece of farce. Relocating the satire into a context that feels uncomfortably close to home, this adaptation leans into the absurdity of medical misinformation, performative wellness and opportunistic “experts” with delicious precision.
The play centres around the obscenely crude Agani, a wealthy hypochondriac obsessed with his imaginary illnesses who has seen his considerable wealth drained by an endless parade of charlatan doctors and their endless supplies of “miracle” cures.
Agani is consistently manipulated by Doctors Pagoni and Feruzi, who exploit his fear of sickness for financial gain, making him overpay for tests and medicines he doesn’t even need – sound familiar?
Agani hatches a plot to marry off his daughter, Angelica, to Thomas Dafrosi, a soon-to-be doctor in order to secure free medical care. But Angelica is in love with Clinton, an actor/artist/poet. Meanwhile, Belinda, Agani’s considerably younger wife of six months and her secret lawyer-lover, Boniface, are also trying to swindle Agani out of his wealth.
As doors slam and deceit thicken the plot, it seems only Argan’s clever house help, Toneta, and his sister, Beryl, can save the day when they devise a plan to expose his wife’s true intentions . Soon the whole household joins in a madcap scheme to save true love and give Argan’s doctors a dose of their own medicine. Cue: the inevitable chaos that ensues.
MGONJWA MWITU explores themes of false doctors, fraud, greed, love and death in one of the funniest comedies you will ever see.
At the centre of this whirlwind is Kenyan favourite Ben Tekee, who takes on the role of Agani. Displaying his razor-sharp comic timing that we saw in the film Sketchy Africans, and his commanding presence, Tekee leans fully into the character’s grotesque paranoia around illness.
Scene-stealing in equal measure is Wakio Mzenge as Toneta, the quick-witted house help who quietly runs the household while everyone else spirals, while Mary Mwikali – who gained renewed recognition for her 2025 stage appearance in Of Cords and Discord – plays her counterpart Beryl. Alongside these stars, recent Kenyan Theatre Award Best Actor winner Cosmos Kirui adds further heft to the ensemble — his presence alone a marker of the calibre of talent onstage.
Adapted from Moliėre by Gadwill Odhiambo (who also adapted Mstinji from L’Avare and Mtakatifu Bonoko from Tartuffe), directed by Stuart Nash (The Trial of Dedan Kimathi, Sarafina), and featuring a stellar ensemble with lively musical interludes woven throughout, this riotous production promises full-throttle laughter — just don’t ring the doctor if your sides start to ache.
The Hypochondriac (Mgonjwa Mwitu) | Kenya National Theatre
Thu. Mar 26, 2026 7:00 PM
Fri. Mar 27, 2026 7:00 PM
Sat. Mar 28, 2026 3:00 PM
Sat. Mar 28, 2026 7:00 PM
Sun. Mar 29, 2026 3:00 PM
Sun. Mar 29, 2026 7:00 PM
Tickets on Kenyabuzz, Tikiti, and Viu Tickets. Thursday tickets onlly 1000 bob!
