Deputy President William Ruto on Tuesday, July 5, 2022, joined Kenyans in mourning celebrated actor Wilfred Olwenya Maina.
Olwenya, popular for his role ‘Oti’ in the Nairobi Half life film, died on Monday.
The DP mourned Olwenya as a brilliant actor who exited the stage too soon.
“I mourn with the family, friends and colleagues of Olwenya Maina, a brilliant actor who has exited the stage far too soon,” Ruto said in a statement shared on his social media pages.
He added: “We have lost a genuine talent, a dedicated creative and a good man. Like all great talents, Maina will live on through his work. Safiri Salama. To borrow the lyrics of Amos and Josh, Tutaonana Baadaye.”
I mourn with the family, friends and colleagues of Olwenya Maina, a brilliant actor who has exited the stage far too soon.
— William Samoei Ruto, PhD (@WilliamsRuto) July 5, 2022
We have lost a genuine talent, a dedicated creative and a good man. Like all great talents, Maina will live on through his work. Safiri Salama. pic.twitter.com/o9jZYATaLr
According to Olwenya’s colleagues in the film industry, the thespian collapsed and was pronounced dead at a city hospital.
The cause of his death was not immediately disclosed.
Besides his role in the 2012 crime film – Nairobi Half Life – Olwenya featured in several other films, including Taliya, Poacher, Pendo and Stories of Our Lives.
He also worked as a voice-over artist at Radio Africa.
Media personality Maina Kageni, who had an opportunity of working with Olwenya at Radio Africa, said Kenya had lost a ‘great talent’.
“We’ll miss you here at Radio Africa… among the best voices in East Africa…. great actor, superb talent!!!! Recalling your outstanding role in the movie Nairobi Half-life… what a game-changer you were, big boss!” the Classic 105 radio host said in a Facebook post.
Olwenya’s friends and colleagues in the entertainment industry termed his death as a big loss.
Mother-In-Law actress Catherine Kamau alias Kate Actress said: “You’ve been constantly on my mind since we started filming with the African director reminiscing what great talent you are. Why? My heart is so heavy. Go well, bro. We shall meet again.”
“This is a brother I have known. In fact, he was also in the car on the day of the accident. He told me we will be together…Yesterday His journey on earth was No more…Rest well, comrade. Love You,” former Churchill Show comedian Paul ‘Wakimani’ Ogutu said while referring to an accident that killed his colleague Emmanue Makori better known as Ayeiya, in 2017.
