Herman Gakobo Kago alias Prof Hamo in Churchil Show was born and brought up in Nakuru as the fifth born in a family of eight. He grew up in the military base in Lanet (his father was in the army). He went to Kenyatta and Nakuru East primary schools, then went to Nakuru Day High school. This ended up at Kisumu Polytechnic to pursue electrical engineering, a course he never completed.
He started hustling to earn his daily bread through various businesses away from electronic work.
This is when he started his art as a singer.
"I started going to the Nakuru theatre, where I met many actors and actresses . I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do. I joined a band called Tamasha as a vocalis about four or five years ago. But I still wasn’t happy," says Prof. Hamo.
"I was getting very little from the band so I started a mandazi business. I would cook them and transport them to the shops using a bicycle which was very tiring since I didn’t have time to sleep or rest, because I was always cooking, transporting or going back to the shops to collect cash," added Professor Hamo.
He later learnt that Churchill Show was conducting audition on Tuesdays in Nairobi which persuaded him travel to the city and try his luck, the judges however didn’t even listen to him.
"The judges just chased me out of the stage even before I spoke. I did not give up though but kept going back to the auditions every other time to try my luck," Hammo said.
He says he was not hilarious in school but was very shy.
His breakthrough came just when Churchill on the Road edition went to Nakuru.
"Last year Churchill on the Road came to Nakuru and I went. One of the judges, Allan Weku, remembered me. He had no idea I used to go to Nairobi all the way from Nakuru just to audition. He particularly liked the ‘Njooni mlio lemewa na mizigo’ joke, and he gave me a chance. That’s how it all began. I started off as Hamo, the Prof bit came later," he said.
After the Nakuru show went well, he got more opportunities to perform in Nairobi during the live recording of the show at the Carnivore Grounds.
"I believe I’m still learning now and I will continue to listen to mentors like Churchill. I still audition every Tuesday because I believe in learning new things every day," Hamo continues.
His advise is that despite the fame, always remain humble.