This stage and screen icon, who cut her teeth under the late great James Falkland, has done it all: from Pirates of Penzance to taking on Shakespeare's best in The Merchant of Venice. She recently starred in a one-woman show, Elements, written by the legendary John Sibi Okumu and directed by the multi-award-winning Wakio Mzenge.

Her TV credits include Changes, Selina, Second Family and will star in the upcoming Kenyan-German movie production, Mercy.

She is currently performing a dual role on the small screen that has fans gripped. In Single Kiasi Season 4 (Showmax), Keli plays Delilah, a scandalous cougar who is determined to force her much younger lover, Ritchie (played by Kevin Maina), into starting a family. On Maisha Magic Plus' Lazizi, she transforms into Bridget, the bitter onscreen wife of Mwaniki Mageria, ready to unleash years of resentment!

In an exclusive, she reflects on her latest projects:

Earlier this year, you staged a one-woman show, Elements at the theatre. Tell us about that.  

Elements was both the most challenging and rewarding experience of my acting career.  Standing alone on that stage, in front of a live audience, knowing it was all on me to hold their attention, draw them in, and unpack the layers of this complex woman … it pushed me in ways I hadn’t imagined. But through it all, I grew – as a performer, as a storyteller, and as a woman.

If I could go back and do Elements again, I’d ask more questions. I already ask a lot, but I’d dig even deeper this time. The story resonated with me deeply – her pain, her layers, her truth. Elements was, at its heart, about a woman’s pain. So maybe next time, I would reach out more – talk to women who’ve lived through similar experiences – to bring even more honesty and depth to the performance.

How different is theatre from TV?

Oh, they are worlds apart.

Theatre is raw, it’s immediate, it’s alive – there’s no hiding, no second take. You are right there, feeding off the audience’s energy, living every moment as it happens. It’s larger than life, and that’s the thrill of it! You walk on stage knowing you have to give it your all, right then and there. That adrenaline? Nothing compares.

TV, on the other hand, is a completely different beast. It demands restraint. You can’t rely on big gestures or exaggerated emotions – the camera catches everything, even the tiniest flicker of thought or feeling. So you have to pull back, trust the stillness, and let the subtle moments do the work.

My first love is theatre, I'll never deny that, but TV also has things that I really enjoy.

You star in the new season of Single Kiasi where you play Ritchie’s cougar. How was shooting S4 for you?

Shooting Single Kiasi was an absolute blast – honestly, one of the most exciting and challenging experiences of my career. Delilah is the most not-me character I have ever played.

Stepping into her world was both terrifying and thrilling. Delilah makes no apologies for who she is: bold, confident, and completely in control –  and I absolutely love that about her. But getting there took a lot of work. Thankfully, I had so much grace and support from our amazing producers, Grace Kahaki and Philippe Bresson.

As an actor, you are always creating personalities, building people from the ground up, but Delilah? She’s from a completely different universe. Still, playing her stretched me in the best way possible. The experience? Fantastic.

Your chemistry with Kevin Maina is always top notch. How did you approach working with Mwaniki Mageria?

My chemistry with Kevin Maina has always been something special – it comes from a place of trust and honesty. Because of the nature of Single Kiasi, we had to build that connection on set through openness – really listening to each other, being present, and allowing the characters to breathe naturally. When two actors trust each other, that’s when the magic truly happens.

Working with Mwaniki Mageria, though, was a whole new experience – similar, but different. Mwaniki brings such maturity and a calm presence to his role as Mark, and that energy really helped me step deeper into my own role as Bridget. Our dynamic on screen is completely different from what Kevin and I had – different motivations, different chemistry – but equally rich and layered.

Honestly, working with Mwaniki has been an absolute pleasure, and I can’t wait to see where the story takes us next.

What do you think viewers will love or hate about Bridget?

I think they would love her elegance, her intelligence, her strength. She's a chess player, so I think a lot of, especially a lot of women will be able to resonate, and even some men, who have been in the situations, will be able to resonate with some of the things that Bridget does.

I don't know what they'll hate about Bridget, but I'm really looking forward to how they feel about her if she doesn't play fair.

Who’s your biggest creative influence?

I love Viola Davis, Maggie Smith, Meryl Streep, and Helen Mirren. These women are the very definition of range, discipline, and dedication. Their ability to disappear into every role they take on –  that’s the kind of artistry I aspire to.

I followed Maggie Smith’s career for years, from her early days on stage to her most recent work and watching her evolution has been nothing short of inspiring. The same goes for Viola Davis: her emotional honesty, her power, her growth as an artist … it moves me every time.

What I admire most about all of them is the discipline and seriousness they bring to their craft. You can feel the years of hard work behind every performance, the respect they have for their characters and their audiences. That, to me, is what being a true actor is all about.

What’s your ideal off-day routine?

Oh, I like spending time in the quiet outdoors. I also like cooking for my family and friends. If it's roasted, it's my best. Roast vegetables, roast potatoes, roast chicken, roast steak. Love it.

What is your advice to the next generation of young actors?  

I think to be young now is amazing. I think the opportunities that are available to actors and filmmakers now, you know, are a lot more than when we started out. So, I would say to them, it doesn't happen by magic.

You must put in the work. You might have a talent, God-given talent, but you know the story of the talents, right? If you bury it, it doesn't grow.

So, hone your craft, work at it, do the classes, and you know, never take a day off if it's about learning to do it better.

This being the second season you are playing Delilah, what has been the feedback so far on your character in the show?

Oh my gosh, the feedback has been hilarious. Honestly, no one in my family has had the courage to say a word about Delilah. Not a single comment. I think they’re all still processing.

My friends, on the other hand, have been very vocal. It’s been a lot of, “Wait, you did WHAT?” and “I can’t believe that was you!” But the reactions have been overwhelmingly positive. Everyone I have talked to about Single Kiasi is just so excited that there’s another season on the way – all I keep hearing is, “When, when, when?”

And I get it – Delilah is a character that stirs things up. Somewhere out there, I’m sure a real-life Delilah is living her best life, and honestly? Good for her! It’s all part of the fun of storytelling. Plus, the irony that her son in the show is named Samson. I mean, come on — that’s just perfect.

What will you never do for a role?

Nudity? Nudity, like complete, stark nudity, I wouldn't, I'd like to think I wouldn't do. I think when I played Delilah, I did things I said I would never do.

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