Veteran actress Mama Kayai has been in the film industry for over four decades. The actress made her first appearance on television in 1980, and since then, she has never looked back. She is considered one of the pioneering actors who not only shaped the film industry in the country but also nurtured future stars.
She is famous for being a ‘screen’ wife of another iconic actor, the late Benson Wanjau, also known as Mzee Ojwang. The duo attracted many Kenyans to the screens at a time when TV shows were not very popular.
However, most of her fans are not aware of the actress’s real name, age, and other details. In this piece, The Daily Sauce, walks you through some of the questions you may have been asking yourself concerning Mama Kayai.
Mama Kayai’s Real Name
The famous actress, who is well known for her stage name, Mama Kayai, was born Mary Khavere. Actually, only a handful of her fans know her real name, as they prefer to call her by her ‘screen name.’
Nevertheless, they should not be questioned because the actress adopted the stage name ‘Mama Kayai’ at the time when Vitimbi was a hit TV show (in the 1980s). Her acting was so engaging that her stage name followed her outside acting. So, fans who started seeing her on the screens in the 1990s and 2000s might not be able to know her actual name.
At some point, her kids weren’t happy to be referred to as Mama Kayai’s children when in primary school. As they grew up, they realized that their mother was professionally engaged to Vitimbi, a popular show at the time.
“But when they grew up, they realized I was professionally engaged with the Vitimbi Group,” she told The Standard in a previous interview.
Origin and Age
In addition to the queries on her name, Mama Kayai’s origin has been a subject of debate for many years. Known for her fluent Swahili accent in the Vitimbi drama series, one might confuse her to have originated from the coast region, famous for the Swahili language. That is not the case. The Vitimbi actress originates from the western region, particularly the Luhya nation. The soft spoken actress is a Muslim and prays on a daily basis.
The actress’s age has also been a subject of discussion. Although there has been uncertainty about her exact birth date, Mama Kayai is reportedly 62 years old (as of 2025).
Brief overview of her acting career
Mary Khavare’s involvement in the film industry has spanned over 40 years now. She kickstarted her career as a young lady (in her early 20s) in 1980. Her first show was Vitimbi, which was previously known as ‘Darubini.’
On the show, Mary Khavere played the role of Mzee Ojwang’s wife. They were both the lead actors. Mama Kayai and Mzee Ojwang depicted the challenges couples go through in their relationships. Most of their acts were comical, thus passing their message in a more understandable way. The ‘screen’ lovers soon became household names in the country, but in a unique way; they were known as the power couple of Kenyan comedy.
Their chemistry in the film industry spanned over 30 years until Mzee Ojwang died in 2015. It wasn’t easy for Mama Kayai after her acting partner passed away. With time, she gradually recovered from the loss of Mzee Ojwang and kept on acting in the Vitimbi drama show. Since then, the KBC show has introduced new characters and changed some roles. As of today, Mama Kayai plays the role of a single mother.
