oh i see, use

  if ($1 isin %nicks) { echo -a $1 is already on <<Kirbeh's Control>> }

also another alternative which if your still learning will be easier to understand is

on *:text:*:?:{
  if ($istok(%nicks,$nick,32)) {
    if (!msg == $1) msg $2- 
    if (!act == $1) describe $2- 
} }