From Trying to Be a Priest to Playing Rap*sts & Gangsters

When the two Nairobi Half Life leads (Joseph K. Wairimu and Olwenya Maina) came to Ghafla! for an interview, they revealed a lot about the earlier part of their career and gave a lot of insight into the film that has won many people’s hearts.

Some may know Olwenya Maina from his extensive stage work and on-screen roles. The most prominent being Shuga, where he plays a rap*st. You might also remember him as a sleazy janitor from MALI.

With all his sneaky roles–including his latest as a gangster–it’s might be hard to believe that the guy once wanted to be a priest. He told us more about it in the interview, read transcript below.

Ghafla!: “You always play weird characters. Like, you were a gangster in this one, you were a rap*st in Shuga.”

Olwenya Maina: “These characters follow me.”

G!: “Which is weird, because in another interview you told me you were almost a pastor at some point. “

OM: “Yes, I wanted to become a priest. That was at the forefront of my aspirations but then again, acting took over. I just realized that I was acting a priest all this long so I decided to go chase it.”

Check out the video below.
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