MAMA KAYAI REVEALS SHE USED TO EARN SH20 PER EPISODE

Veteran Kenyan actress Mama Kayai has opened up about her early days in the entertainment industry, revealing that when she first started acting, she earned just Sh20 per episode, a modest sum that ultimately won over her skeptical father.

The beloved screen icon, known for her memorable roles in Kenyan television dramas, shared the nostalgic reflection during a recent interview, “When I started acting at VOK [Voice of Kenya], I used to be paid Sh20 per episode,” Mama Kayai recounted. “Then it never used to finish. I used to stay with the money.“

The actress disclosed that her father initially disapproved of her pursuit of acting. However, the day she brought home her first earnings, he softened. “My dad never used to like me acting,” she said. “But the day I brought him the Sh20, he never stopped me from acting.“

At the time, Mama Kayai revealed she would earn between Sh80 and Sh100 per month, a amount for a young actress in that era.