Bilal Wanjau: How Tahidi High actor rose from set books to screen stardom

The late Bilal Wanjau [Courtesy] Actor Bilal Wanjau took his last curtain call on the night of December 3 after a battle with type 2 diabetes. The beloved performer lived many lives on theatre, film, and television sets over the years, and most notably in Kifo Kisimani, Tahidi High, and Jela 5 Star. His artistic journey began in his school years at St Teresa's Boys Secondary School and later Eastleigh High School. His professional journey took off in 2007 when he joined Starlight Productions just after completing high school. There, he began as an actor in set book performances and made his name in roles in classics like Kifo Kisimani by Prof Kithaka wa Mberia, Mstahiki Meya by Timothy M. Arege, Enemy of the People by Henrik Ibsen, Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare, The River Between by Ngugi wa Thiong'o, and Utengano and Tumbo Lisiloshiba na Hadithi Nyingine by Said Ahmed Mohamed. His discipline and natural leadership saw him rise steadily within the company, from actor to stage manager, then assistant director, and later assistant production manager in 2010. By 2012, he had become the production manager, a sign of his commitment both on and off the stage. That same year, Wanjau stepped into television full-time, and he had his screen debut as Mr Mwiruki in Tahidi High, and it became a role that introduced him to a wider audience. His filmography grew, spanning drama, comedy, and action. He acted in The Runaway (2017), Wimped (2021) as Phil Wachira, Gamble of the Kid (2022) as Alusa, and Bazenga (2023). He also starred in the short film Sand Castles as Mr Okoth and in the Bollywood film Nakupenda Nakutaka. On television, he was Chief Ruto in the comedy series Janjaruka (2019), Gavana (2014), Sumu la Penzi (2013), Gasket in It's a Free Country (2024), and Showmax drama 4Play (2024) as Michael, Hullabaloo Estate (2016), and Njoro wa Uba (2019). One of his most celebrated roles was Inspector Kasoro, popularly known as Afande Kasoro, in the comedy series Jela 5 Star. It is also a performance that earned him a Kalasha Award in 2017. His theatre work spans Aladdin the Musical, Too Early for Birds: The Comeback, Madam Where Are You Madam, and Mgonjwa Mwitu. This year, he played Batu in Kifo Kisimani, Bonoko in Mtakatifu Bonoko, and Uncle Georgy in Vienyeji Promax. Wanjau is fondly remembered by the arts fraternity as a humorous and warm person with a strong knack for leadership. Martin Kigondu, who directed him in Kifo Kisimani, which was staged in August, recalls him being the last actor to be cast for the play, just three weeks before the show, but he took the role of Batu with honour and responsibility, even guiding new actors. Through his Prevail Presents production house, Kigondu previously worked with him in Who is Your Daddy? and What Happens at Dusk - all serious roles and diversions from his comic nature. "Comic actors can do brilliant dramatic roles. He was one of my most consistent collaborators and one of the most genuine actors I have worked with. He was able to carry humility even with the talent that he had. He was disciplined, and he knew how to live with people," Kigondu says. Director Stuart Nash, who collaborated with Wanjau on Mgonjwa Mwitu (2024), Vienyeji Promax (2025), and Mtakatifu Bonoko (2025) through his Nairobi Performing Arts Studio, remembers him as a brilliant and dependable actor. "People tend to be typecast, but he could be serious or funny. He was very good at dramatic roles. He was always casting jokes and was the centre of the cast, holding everyone together," Nash says. Actor and producer Ben Tekee, who worked with Bilal across several productions, including Jela 5 Star and Njoro wa Uba, describes him as a natural leader. "You didn't have to assign him responsibility. If something needed leadership, he took it up. As the oldest actor in Kifo Kisimani, he guided younger cast members and motivated people. He also got his lines very fast. He was a team player," he expresses. Actor Martin Githinji, who acted alongside Wanjau in Vienyeji Promax and who he met in 2005 when they both worked on set books at Starlight Productions, recalls their deep bond. "We travelled for the show's tour in Kisumu, Eldoret, and Mombasa and were even roommates. He had a big body but a very soft face and heart," he says. Githinji remembers Wanjau's laughter, his dancing, and his ability to make everyone around him smile. "Even if we didn't have our lines, he had this confidence, this aura. He was never one to come to a show unprepared. If he cracked a smile, everyone would smile. The industry has lost a giant. I have lost a friend," he says. Producer of Starlight Production, Njenga Morrison, remembers him for nurturing upcoming artists, being jovial, and his commitment to his work. "His absence in theatre, film, and television is felt in a bigger way. His vacuum can never be filled nor replaced. He is an icon. For him, the curtains rolled, and he has exited the stage," he states. Photos: Courtesy

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Bilal Wanjau: How Tahidi High actor rose from set books to screen stardom

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