I HAD PROBLEMS WITH MZEE OJWANG’S FAMILY, HIS WIFE RAISED HELL AND ACCUSED ME OF STEALING HER HUSBAND-MAMA KAYAI

Mary Khavere, whom many of us have grown up to know as Mama Kayai, was on Bonga na Jalas. The Vitimbi actress revealed a few things people don’t know about her journey.

“I miss Mzee Ojwang. People believed that me and the late Mzee Ojwang were actually married in real life, ” she says.

“I had big trouble with Mzee Ojwang’s family. His wife, Agusta, raised hell and drama on me and accused me of stealing her husband. She didn’t understand this acting thing. Ojwang tried to explain to her but she wasn’t having any of it.

She insisted that I was taking his money and causing trouble for them but eventually people convinced her and she understood what acting is about and that it’s not real life.”

“I’m now very good friends with Mzee Ojwang’s wife. She’s doing well apart from a few health challenges,” she says.

The 65-year-old actress also reveals what she was earning during those heydays, saying, “I used to get paid Sh40 during those days. KBC, then known as Voice of Kenya (VOK) was the main channel, these private broadcasters weren’t there. But Sh40 was a lot of money back then.”

Despite making her own money, her mom was not convinced and she states, “My mom used to ask me where I was getting that money from and when I tell her, she would beat me. This is because I used to go the acting gig secretly without my parents’ knowledge. But I later explained it to them and they understood I was working and that’s where I was getting the money from.”

Mama Kayai and a few of her acting colleagues used to entertain the late President Moi and she says,”We had a play and we went and acted it out to the late President. He was so happy. He was so happy that there was no Moi celebration without our presence and performance. We used to attend all his events and celebrations.”

She adds, “When the President got angry or frustrated, his PA would call us to entertain him. After performing for him, his anger would subside.”

She says they were fired from KBC unceremoniously, stating, “We woke up one day and we were told ‘there’s no work’. We asked why and they were like, ‘you are not needed’. But why? We were told ‘You have grown old’.

There was a lady who was there and insisted she would get rid of Vitimbi and Vioja Mahakamani because they were old shows and not needed anymore. This was after more than 30 years being on air. We were kicked out and that was it.”

The actress adds that she used to indulge a little in alcohol, “I used to drink a little back then after work. But I stopped. I have grown kids, am I the one who is going to drink or is it them?”

Speaking of her family, she adds, “I have 4 kids, all men and I also have grandchildren at my 65 years of age and I’m very happy.”