Back in Kenya, Gado shopped the idea around to the TV stations, but many had trouble
understanding the concept. Still, Gado pressed ahead, and in 2004 he managed to convince
the French Embassy in Nairobi to send sculptor Gerald Olewe to France for a month. There
Olewe was trained by the team of experts who create the French puppets, and he learned how
to work with sophisticated materials such as foaming latex. He came back with a fully
finished puppet of Kibaki in his luggage. Olewe held his breath as he innocently walked
through the JKIA customs. Luckily, he was not stopped.
Two more struggling years went by
until in July 2007, Gado scrapped together a few shillings, got a little bit of money from
the French embassy and produced a pilot for the show.