ON - Omidyar Network

• Photos (6)

A satirical television program, The XYZ Show comments on current political and social affairs in Kenya through the use of latex puppets resembling prominent figures.

Why We Invested

On The XYZ Show, national leaders in Kenya are lampooned with the purpose of using humor to address difficult and controversial national issues while promoting transparency in government.  The XYZ Show is modeled after the UK’s “Spitting Image” and France’s “Les Guignols de L’Info” television programs.  With Omidyar Network’s grant, The XYZ Show will expand reach and engagement via web and mobile channels, create strategies that increase and diversify funding, and produce upcoming seasons of the show.

The XYZ Show is more than a TV program; it is a social vehicle.  Through humor, the show tackles critical yet controversial topics such as corruption and impunity, while promoting values such as good governance, transparency, human rights, and national cohesion.  The XYZ Show has the potential to defuse future tensions, give voice to people’s frustrations, and provide perspective through laughter in order to become a strong advocate for peace and democracy in Kenya.