The most popular Kenyan actors

Photo sourced from Wikimedia

The most popular Kenyan actors

Kenya is full of homegrown talent and has had its name and flag flown on international platforms.

Many may know Kenya for its long-distance runners such as Eliud Kipchoge, Vivian Cheruiyot, Asbel Kiprop among many others.

Kenyan talent goes beyond sports and we have amazing thespians who have not only made it here at home but also in the global scene.

Notable names such as Lupita Nyong’o, Edi Gathegi and Benjamin Ochieng’ are some that have made it big in Hollywood.   

Here are the most popular Kenyan actors both at home and beyond.

1. Benjamin Ochieng’

Benjamin Ochieng’ is a Kenyan actor who has made it big in Hollywood. He has been featured in The X-Files with Swahili speaking role.

Benjamin got hired for his first role after playing as an extra more than 60 times.  

Other movies that he has featured in include Tears of the Sun, God’s not Dead and beautifully Broken.

He is now an established producer and sound editor. Some of the movies Benjamin has produced include Mr Brewers Difficult Day and MISSInformed.

2. Lupita Nyongó

By Daniel Benavides – Wikimedia

Lupita is famous for winning an Oscar for her role as Patsy in the movie 12 years a Slave by Steve McQueen.

She was born in Mexico. She was partly raised in Mexico when her parents had sought asylum. Later on, her family moved back to Kenya where she went to school.

Lupita then went to study film at Hampshire College, Massachusetts.

She also worked as a production assistant on several films and graduated from the Yale School of Drama’s acting program.

Lupita has featured in locally produced films such as The Constant Gardner, Queen of Katwe and Shuga.

Her international debut was in 12 Years a Slave, Non-Stop, Star Wars: The Force Awakening, Black Panther, and The Jungle Book.

She is not only limited to the silver screen but has also acted on stage.

3. Edi Gathegi

Photo sourced from Wikimedia

Edi Mue Gathegi was born in Kenya and later relocated to California in his youth. Before he took up acting, he wanted to be a pro basketball player but he got injured.

He studied acting at New York University.

Edi has had a successful career in Hollywood. He has had supporting roles in the famous cop series CSI: Miami, and House M.D.

His big break was in the vampire movie Twilight and its sequel Twilight Saga: New Moon.

Other popular movies that he has been featured in is X-Men: First Class, Death Sentence, The Fifth Patient, Gone Baby Gone and Blacklist.

Of all popular Kenyan actors here at home and those abroad, Edi has had more roles than any of them in Hollywood.

4. Charles Gitonga Maina

Gitonga is one of the very few Kenyans who stood out, well because of his height. Standing tall at 6’10, Gitonga grew up in Kenya and later on moved to the United States for an acting role.

His big role was in the movie The Air UP There (1994) where he acted alongside Kevin Bacon and Yolanda Vazquez.

Gitonga also got a role in the movie Sea Quest DSV as professor Obatu.

His natural talent got him the role and a basketball scholarship at Lynn University. Unfortunately, he never went back to acting.

After failing to secure a place in a Greek pro-team, he came back home.

5. Christine Wawira

Christine Wawira might not be so famous here in Kenya but has earned a name for herself in the acting world.

She is born to Kenyan parents and grew up in London. She later moved to the USA to further her acting career.

Christine has appeared in over 13 films, with her most prominent roles being in Flash, Blacklisted, East African Girl, Night Call, and Sign of the Dragon.

6. Mary Oyaya

Another popular Kenyan actor is Mary Oyaya. Mary started as a runway model that got her several opportunities to travel the world.

She made her way to Hollywood and has been featured in two Star Wars films. Her role was a Jedi Master Luminara Unduliin.

Other famous movies she has appeared in include Farscape and Attack of the Clones.

7. Raymond Ofula

Raymond Ofula has graced the screens of the Kenyan audience for more than 3 decades.

The popular Kenyan films that he has had leading roles include Jacob’s Cross, Makutano Junction, Better Days, Changes, Tabasamu, Nairobi Law and Mali.

His talent has also earned him roles in international films. He has had a role in Tomb Raider 2 where he acted alongside Angelina Jolie, To Walk with Lions, Winterreise, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind and Queen Sono.

Ofula has also produced films that were a hit, they are White Maasai and the Constant Gardner.

8. Charles Bukeko

Charles Bukeko better known by his screen name Papa Shirandula was a Kenyan actor and comedian.

He was known for portraying the titular character in the television series Papa Shirandula.

Bukeko produced this award-winning series. He won the 2010 Kalasha Award for Best Actor in a TV Series. Bukeko also appeared in the 2012 film The Captain of Nakara.

9. Lenny Juma

Photo courtesy of Maisha Magic East

Lenny Juma started as a casting director and had his first screen role in the movie Tomb Raider: Cradle of Life. He acted alongside Angelina Jolie and Raymond Ofula.

Juma was also part of the production team that produced the movie The Air Up There and The Constant Gardner.  

In Indiana Jones Chronicles, Juma plays the witchdoctor, while in the movie Banged Up Abroad he played Colonel Bao.

10. Brenda Wairimu

Brenda has appeared in several local movies and television series. She made her debut on television when she was cast as one of the actresses in, Changing Times (2009).

In 2011, Brenda was one of the lead actors in the television series Mali. Then in 2012, she was one of the main acts of Shuga2, a Pan-African television drama.   

Brenda doubles up as a producer. She produced and acted in the movie for Subira, Disconnect and 18 Hours.

She is currently the lead actress in the popular Kenyan series Monica.