Popular Kenyan actors Jackie “Wilbroda” Nyaminde and Mwaniki Mageria will star in Lazizi, a new locally produced telenovela premiering on October 6.
The show, created by Reuben Odanga, who also produced the hit series Selina, explores political ambition and family secrets in Kenya’s sugarcane farming region.
Lazizi tells the story of Mark Mbotela, a sugarcane business mogul played by Mageria, who seeks the governor’s seat not for glory but for protection from his troubled past. The drama unfolds as dangerous love affairs, buried secrets, and family rivalries threaten to expose his darkest truths. Wilbroda plays Amina, Mark’s former lover and mother to his son Shaffie, a character struggling with alcoholism and depression.
“I was heavily inspired by the flora and fauna of this country, especially the beautiful landscapes of Muhoron,i which I recall from my school days,” said producer Reuben Odanga. “I wanted to tell a story from that region, something we haven’t done before. It felt right to give the people there a story that would be closer to home and very relatable.”
Odanga added that the show combines different storytelling elements to create a unique viewing experience. “We have fused a strong telenovela aspect, which is anchored in realism, with a very dramatic side to the project. We are also infusing Swahili, English and Luo languages to make it even more relatable to the local audience,” he explained.
The cast includes established actors like Hellen Keli from Single Kiasi and Joel Otukho from Country Queen, alongside newcomers Isaac Okoyo, Evelyne Gitonga, Vivian Nyawira and Zandie Andika. YouTube content creator Clare Karatu and actor Michael Odhiambo also feature in the series.
