Veteran Vitimbi Actress Receives Lifetime Award in the United States
Veteran actress Mary Khavere, better known by her stage name as Mama Kayai, has been honored in the United States with a Lifetime Achievement Award in Performing Arts in Raleigh, NC.
Mama Kayai was a beloved figure among many Kenyans who watched the popular Vitimbi show on KBC. She has appeared on Kenyan TV for almost 40 years.
Although she started acting in 1980, she rose to prominence in 1985, when the Vitimbi program premiered.
Mama Kayai, who played the late Mzee Ojwang’s wife, wowed Kenyan audiences with her acting abilities.
On the show, she and the late Mzee Ojwang playfully depicted the difficulties that married couples face.
The two actors quickly established themselves as the power couple of Kenyan humor.
They rapidly established Vitimbi as a fan favourite. Mama Kayai received multiple prizes for her outstanding performance in the show, as did the other actors.
Veteran actress Mary Khavere, popularly known by her stage name Mama Kayai, has been feted in the US after receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award in Performing Arts in Raleigh, North Carolina.
— Coletta Aluda (@Colettaaluda_1) July 19, 2025
Mama Kayai has been a darling to many Kenyans who watched the popular Vitimbi show,… pic.twitter.com/5NweNZvuAJ
They not only captivated Kenyans’ hearts, but they were also the preferred entertainment of all three former Kenyan presidents.
Aside from Vitimbi, Mama Kayai appeared in other series such as Vioja Mahakamani, a courtroom drama, and Jungu Kuu.
Her ongoing relevancy, modesty, and resilience in the creative sector have garnered her national and international recognition.
The Lifetime Achievement Award is the cherry on top of an already impressive list of accomplishments. It recognises her lasting influence on East African television and comedy.
Mama Kayai, along with other Kenyan artists, traveled to the United States on Friday to accept the Myogenic Excellence Awards, which were presented at the United Brethren Restoration Centre.
The awards ceremony was held on Saturday, July 19.
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The celebration coincides with the Myogenic Africa Mentorship Program, which aims to support emerging creatives and professionals in the diaspora and throughout Africa.
Organisers lauded her as a true example of how to handle stardom with dignity.
“As the CEO of Myogenic Africa Talent Academy, I’m thrilled to announce that our first team, led by Mama Kayai, is arriving at Raleigh-Durham Airport (RDU) right now! My team and I are on the ground to welcome them,” Solomon Omboto shared.
Other noteworthy personalities likely to get accolades include Hon. Huldah Momanyi, a Kenyan senator sitting in Minnesota; actor Abel Amunga; former Kenya Film Classification Board CEO Ezekiel Mutua; and comedian and media personality Walter Mong’are, commonly known as Nyambane.
Veteran Vitimbi Actress Receives Lifetime Award in the United States
