With over three decades in the industry, he’s stepping confidently into the spotlight as an actor, bringing his wealth of experience to the screen in a way that feels both fresh and full circle.

His onscreen fame came in popular shows like Kona, Rush, Salem, and recently The Chocolate Empire; small but significant steps that laid the groundwork for the layered performances he delivers today.

Mageria now stars as Mr. Mark Mbotela in Lazizi, the newest telenovela from Maisha Magic Plus. His character is a commanding mogul in the sugarcane business whose ambitions push him to run for governor, not out of vanity or greed, but for protection. Beneath the surface lies a web of buried secrets, a dangerous affair, and family rivalries that threaten to destroy everything he’s built.

In an exclusive, he unpacks his career and his new leading role in Lazizi:

We recently saw you in The Chocolate Empire, where you had a romantic relationship with the legendary Sanaipei Tande. How was it working on such a set?

Oh, mind-blowing. I would say one thing: the professionalism of our Insignia production was incredible. The storyline was very challenging for me. The role that I was playing was a very soft-spoken pastor.  And I'm a very loud, outgoing guy, so it was a bit difficult. But I think the directors did a very good job of bringing out that role in me. It was a big challenge. It helped me hone my talents to another level, I would say. And I think it's because of my performance there that I was able to convince the producers of this show that I'm able to deliver something different, something much higher.

Beyond acting, you are closely associated with D&R Studios, especially with their comedy stand-up specials like The Hot Seat and The Roast series. How different is it between working behind the scenes as a producer and being on screen?

It is entirely different. When you're behind the scenes as a producer, my headache is massive. You are juggling budgets, timing, logistics – basically a thousand tiny fires waiting to flare up. It’s intense, it’s detailed, and it never really stops.

I really enjoy acting in front of the camera because, ultimately, what you must remember is how to deliver your lines and how to get into character. And everyone tells you what to do, you know.

What is even funnier is that my Assistant Director is young enough to be my daughter, and she’s the one giving orders at me: “Hey, get up, go there!” And I listen! It’s humbling and hilarious at the same time.

How would you describe yourself in three words?

Smart, energetic, outgoing.

Do you see any traits of yourself in Mbotela?

Smart. Very smart. Mbotela is a very smart, calculating guy.  But he has something that I think I'm not as good at, and he's ruthless.  So that's one thing I really admire about Mark Mbotela. He's also very powerful. And I think that really works very nicely for the kind of positioning that he is in Lazizi.

Mark Mbotela is a complex character with a haunted past – how did you prepare to embody him?

Oh, wow. When I was looking at Mbotela, I was looking at a man who has good drive, is powerful, knows what he wants, and is going to get it at whatever cost.  For me, I'm much more disciplined, very focused.  And when I thought about that kind of person, my dad was a very corporate person and was very focused and in the public eye. So for me, that was what I'm embodying. Now, the part of the past and the romantic stuff, that one I borrowed from what I did in The Chocolate Empire.

What has been your most fulfilling moment on the Lazizi set so far?

It has been watching the younger actors come up to me –  not just to talk about the craft, but about life. They ask about planning, vision, and purpose, and being able to share my experience with them … that really means a lot to me. It is like passing the torch and seeing that curiosity and hunger in them reminds me why I fell in love with this industry in the first place.

I have also been genuinely blown away by how professional our Gen Z actors are. These young talents show up prepared, disciplined, and deeply committed to their work. It gives me so much hope for the future of Kenyan film, because when you see that kind of work ethic and passion, you know the industry is in good hands.

The fact that Lazizi is a Kenyan original: written, produced, and brought to life right here at home. The script is local, the talent is local, and the stories are ours. That, for me, is the biggest win of all.

Outside the entertainment scene, you're also known for your culinary artwork. So, how do you balance both well? 

Very, very hard.

Life is about balance, actually. Balancing what I love so much as a foodie and being able to do content as a foodie, and then this for now, is actually very difficult because we are doing quite a number, we're doing six-day shoots, so that's a lot of work.  I'm hoping that when we catch up a little bit, I'll be able to have a little more time to get back into my content for food.  But it’s also very different because my content for food is reality. This is scripted. I don't have to do too much for that one, but this one needs a bit of preparation.

Which Kenyan story would you love to see told on screen?

It’s that of Samuel Wanjiru. The man was an Olympic hero – a true champion –  and yet his life ended far too soon, under circumstances that still leave so many questions.  Another long overdue one is the story of Jomo Kenyatta, but not just him alone. I would love to see a film that brings together the lives of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Tom Mboya, and the Kapenguria Six – a proper retelling of the birth of our nation.

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