Awinja opens up on how the death of her acting props tailor left her heartbroken

Actress Awinja has opened up about how the demise of her acting props tailor left her heartbroken and in tears.

Speaking during a Q&A session with Kalyondu Musyimi on Thursday, September 11, 2025, Awinja, born Jacky Vicke, revealed that the tailor had been very close to her and that his death left her feeling lost, unsure of how to react, apart from crying.

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She narrated that the tailor had been behind some of her key acting props, including blankets and curtains used in her performances, and had been a trusted companion both on and off set.

His sudden passing, she said, was a blow that left a deep emotional impact, highlighting the close bonds she had formed with those who support her work behind the scenes.

“The last time I cried was last week. My fundi, the one who used to help me with blankets and curtains for acting, passed away. We lost him, and he was such a good friend of mine. I was heartbroken and I cried,” she narrated.

Furthermore, the actress emphasised the importance of her closest relationships, identifying her son and mother as her best friends.

Awinja noted that she rarely texts and considers herself a very slow typist.

“My best friends are my son and my mum; I call my mum the most. I don’t like texting much, I am a very lazy person when it comes to typing.”

Awinja also touched on her honesty in everyday life, recalling that the last time she lied was the previous day when she told her son she would return home before he went to sleep, but ended up coming back after he had fallen asleep.

“The last time I lied was yesterday, I told my son I would be back before he slept, but I came back after he had fallen asleep.”

Upbringing

On her upbringing, Awinja shared that she grew up in Guanga Kanoko, a ghetto in Eastleigh.

Her first job, she recalled, involved standing outside supermarkets to advertise products, running across streets to attract attention, and earning Ksh500 a day.

“My first job was standing outside supermarkets to advertise products, sometimes running across the streets to show people the magazines we were promoting. I earned 500 shillings a day,” she said.

Educational journey

Her educational journey included a strong interest in Kiswahili and English.

While she could not recall her KCPE results, she revealed that she completed her KCSE with a C+.

She also shared that she initially attempted a college course in aviation but did not complete it, later enrolling in a course in radio and TV production, which laid the foundation for her career.

“I cannot recall my KCPE results, and I got a C+ in KCSE. In college, I tried aviation but never completed the course, and later I studied radio and TV production.”