Mama Kayai recalls how Kenyans believed her on-screen marriage to Mzee Ojwang
By William Muthama, June 13, 2026Veteran actress Mary Kavere, widely known as Mama Kayai, has revisited Kenya’s golden television era, reflecting on the deep on-screen chemistry she shared with the late Benson Wanjau, popularly known as Mzee Ojwang.
Speaking in an interview with Milele FM radio host Jacquey Nyaminde, widely known as Wilbroda, on Saturday, June 13, 2026, Mama Kayai said their performances in classic productions such as Vitimbi and Vioja Mahakamani blurred the line between fiction and reality for many viewers.
She said the pairing with Mzee Ojwang became so natural on screen that audiences often struggled to separate their characters from real life, with many Kenyans convinced they were husband and wife.
“People used to think we were actually husband and wife because of how we acted,” she said, laughing. “But it was just good storytelling. We were simply doing our work.”
Mama Kayai noted that the reactions were not surprising, given how the productions were rooted in everyday Kenyan life and delivered in a style that felt close to home for viewers across generations.
She added that what made the chemistry work was simplicity, no forced acting, no overthinking, just characters built around familiar family and community situations.
Early breakthrough
Her breakthrough came through early television comedy programming, where she joined a growing group of pioneers shaping Kenya’s entertainment scene.
She described the period as raw and experimental, with actors learning on the job and building characters that would later define local comedy.
“It was not about fame then. We were just happy to be on TV,” she said.
It was during this time that she teamed up with Mzee Ojwang, forming one of the most memorable pairings in Kenyan television history.
Mzee Ojwang’s legacy
Mama Kayai described Mzee Ojwang as a calm, disciplined and naturally gifted performer whose presence elevated every scene they worked on together.
She said his style allowed space for collaboration, making it easier to build believable family-centred stories that resonated with audiences.
“Mzee Ojwang was very easy to work with. He made everything simple,” she said. “You just come on set and the scene flows.”
Even years after his passing, she noted, his contribution remains deeply embedded in Kenya’s television memory, especially through Vitimbi.
Looking back, Mama Kayai said the early television era was driven more by passion than fame or money, with actors committed to storytelling that reflected ordinary Kenyan lives.