Kenyans making major moves in the film industry

By Cedric Isaiah | 7mos ago | 3 min read

**A collage of Kenyan actors and actresses.**

The Kenyan film scene has steadily improved over the years and below we highlight some of the faces making major moves.

BRAHIM OUMA

Young and ambitious, Brahim Ouma has taken the TV and film scene by storm. At 21 years old, he made his breakthrough by playing the lead actor in the hit series Pepeta.

Before Pepeta, Brahim was featured in short TV commercials, gradually building much-deserved recognition.

Brahim, who plays Junior in the film is up to the task even though he acts alongside a star-studded cast. Pepeta is based on the real-life story of a talented footballer in the slums of Kibera who juggles crime and football.

The opportunity to play this role has been nothing short of magical to him. No doubt the youngster is destined for success.

DEDAN JUMA

Dedan Juma’s story is unbelievable. From a phone-snatcher to becoming a successful actor, Dedan has defied all the odds to be where he is.

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His talent has opened doors for him, allowing him to act in various shows, the most visible being The Real Househelps of Kawangware where he acts as a detective.

In his most recent show Pepeta, Juma plays Zeze, a street-savvy gang leader who recruits boys to his gang. This show has received a good reception, with many people drawn in by Dedan’s acting.

Dedan, who has stamped his place on the acting scene, is living proof of grass to grace.

ROSEMARY WAWERU

Rosemary Waweru made her acting debut in the TV series Tahidi High. She went on to make a name for herself when she acted in Tabasamu.

She then took a break from the screens when she became a mother of two, giving her time to rejuvenate.

Today, she acts in the hit series Faithless, where she plays Esther, a struggling waitress whose life is ruined when she stumbles on the proceeds of a heist gone wrong.

LWANDA JAWAR

Lwanda Jawar started his acting career in a show called Mnazi Lane on KBC in 2000. Later on in his journey in filming, he became a stuntman. For perfection, he was sponsored to train in Germany and whilst there, he learnt about how to go about this role.

He landed a role on Sense8 as a stuntman. Jawar has continued to make a name for himself and has been featured in several films. He recently played Coach Biki in Pepeta.

It won’t be surprising for him to be cast in yet another successful film.

NYOKABI MACHARIA

In December 2022, Nyokabi Macharia won the coveted Best Lead Actress award during the Kalasha Film and TV Awards.

The actress stood out amongst the other nominees due to the prowess she displayed in the hit series County 49. In the film, Nyokabi plays Debra Maka, the governor’s chief of staff in the fictional Bwatele County.

The success she has seen is because of the passion she has for acting, horned since her days in primary school. Indeed, practice makes perfect describes the story of her journey to stardom.

FATMA MOHAMED

The Mombasa-based actress debuted on TV in the hit series Faithless, where she plays the bad-ass role of a female boxer who beats the odds and survives.

Though Fatma Mohamed has since disclosed that she did not know much about the role when auditioning, the boxing part came out naturally for her.

What most people do not know is that she is into fitness and martial arts, jiu-jitsu and boxing and that she has been training for years. Fatma filmed Faithless whilst planning her wedding. This alone shows how passionate she is about acting.