Blessing Lung'aho, Bien Baraza and Crazy Kennar Among Top 7 Leading Men in Kenyan Entertainment
These men are putting Kenya on the map with their creativity, authenticity, and talent. As TUKO.co.ke launches its inaugural entertainment awards, these men, along with four others, are in the running to clinch the top spots. We look at who they are and what makes them so unique. 1. Blessing Lung'aho Blessing has crafted a name for himself in the acting industry, landing major roles in big TV shows. The role that made him a household name, however, was the character Madiba that he played in the hit series Zora. Blessing, a former accounting major, has also played major roles in TV productions like Maria, Makavazi, Sweetest Taboo, Baraza, and Mother-in-Law (Citizen TV). Taking a look at his personal life, Blessing has one child with fellow actor Jackie Matubia. 2. Bien Baraza You can't think of Kenyan music without Bien Baraza's name popping into your head. Bien was the lead vocalist for the boy band Sauti Sol, which officially broke up late last year. He is married to the famous dancer and choreographer Chiki Kuruka; the couple has no kids. Bien has several accolades under his belt, having won multiple awards, including a Grammy, which Sauti Sol won as a unit. He appeared on the Colours show and is currently planning his Europe tour. Soon after Sauti Sol broke up, Bien released his first solo album named after himself, and it was a smashing success. His songs, the likes of Ma Cherie, Mbwe Mbwe, Too Easy, and Lifestyle, among others, can be heard playing everywhere, from homes to eateries and clubs. 3. Crazy Kennar What is content creation without Crazy Kennar? This powerhouse of a man has carved a niche for himself in terms of content creation. The king of skits merges comedy and creativity to craft witty and engaging content that keeps viewers going back for more. Kennar, like most TikTokers, rose to fame during the COVID-19 pandemic when content creation gained a foothold in the country. He has since worked to ensure he remains at the top. Recently, the comic had his first live show, Happy Country and the turnout was amazing. He received love and support from fellow creatives and fans alike, who turned out in droves. Kennar has a lover, Natalie Asewe, with whom he was expecting a child. Unfortunately, the pair lost their child a few days before the Happy Country show. 4. Dennis Ombachi Chef and content creator Dennis Ombachi, aka the roaming chef, is known for his mouth-watering cooking videos. His story is as inspiring as it is remarkable. Formerly a Rugby Sevens player, Ombachi played with the greats on Kenya's rugby team. While there, he often travelled abroad, where he was exposed to different cuisines and cultures and learned several techniques in cookery. Along the way, however, Ombachi suffered a leg injury that took a toll on him both physically and mentally. Doctors diagnosed him with bipolar disorder during this time. Later, he went back to playing, but that was cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic. Stuck at home with nothing to do, Ombachi decided to explore his love for cooking, posting rapid-fire step-by-step cooking videos characterised by his famous 'done' phrase. Although he was already known for his skills on the court, this time, he gained popularity for his work in the kitchen. 5. Khaligraph Jones Born Brian Ouko Omollo, Khaligraph Jones is one of the best rappers in the country; some might even call him the king of rap. He has released several hit songs, including Mazishi and Yego, which undoubtedly catapulted him to fame. His most recent songs include Kwame, Mbona, Weh Decide and Minimal Pressure. Khaligraph has been nominated for and won several local and international awards, including the 2018 AFRIMA Awards, where he was named the best rap artist, and the Soundcity MVP Awards in 2020, where he won in the best hip-hop act category. Khaligraph has three children with his wife, Georgina Muteti, and a son with rapper Cashy Karimi. 6. Robert Agengo Robert Agengo shot into the limelight because of his role on the TV series Zora. That said, the thespian has worked on several local and international productions. Robert is what we call a jack of all trades. When he started out right after high school, he was doing travelling theatre, poetry, playing instruments from guitar to percussion, and even DJing. He has since grown and been featured in big productions like Change, Mali, Makutano Junction, Kona Series, 40 Sticks, and Sue Na Johnie, alongside stars like Kate Actress. Perhaps one of his most notable achievements was landing a role in Chiwetel Ejiofor's critically acclaimed Netflix film, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind. Robert is not married and has previously stated that he does not believe in the union or institution of marriage. However, he has five baby mamas with whom he shares six kids. 7. Brian Ogola Actor Brian Ogola began acting professionally in 2012. His first notable TV role was as 'Ben Juma' on the award-winning series Lies That Bind, which was soon followed by a role in the hit TV series Jane and Abel.Brian is also known for his roles in the Netflix films 18 Hours and Lusala. Although the actor keeps his life fairly private, he recently disclosed that he was expecting a child with his lover, Yvonne Khanyi.
by Brandy Kemunto
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