October 30, 2018 www.mygov.go.ke NEWSFOCUS | 27 The stern-faced ‘judge’ who had final word in TV drama For over three decades, Lucy Wangui played the no-nonsense judge in the long running courtroom comedy-drama Vioja Mahakamani. Her talent and passion reverberated through the screen, earning her a Head of State Commendation in 2009 in addition to numerous acting awards for her brilliant and consistent performance. Her story is excerpted from a forthcoming book, Pioneers & Transformers: The Journeys of Top Achieving Women in Kenya, published by the Kenya Yearbook Editorial Board Pioneers & Transformers Journeys of top achieving women in Kenya E very week, the country is served a hefty dose of rib-cracking humour on the television sitcom Vioja Mahakamani – a long running local courtroom drama. The programme, which airs on the national broadcaster Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC), features a diverse and colourful cast. It was here that Kenyans watched Lucy Wangui act for more than three decades. Until 2015, Wangui played the role of the no-nonsense judge. In this role she was the voice of reason and the ultimate counsel. Viewers will remember her inscrutable expression as she sat on the bench, listening keenly and taking notes. She pulled off her role so well that over the years, it became more and more difficult for fans of the show to separate Wangui from her on-screen character. But what lies behind that stern television exterior? Wangui has been described by her colleagues as being diligent and passionate about her work. Not surprisingly, her persistence has earned her several accolades, the most prestigious being the Head of State Commendation she was awarded in 2009 in celebration of her outstanding performance on television. In the same year, she was nominated for the Best Actress in a Television Series award at the Kalasha Film & Television Awards. Vioja Mahakamani was also nominated for two awards: Best Comedy Programme and the Mfalme (Lifetime Achievement) Award. Wangui has also received a Best Comedian award from The Churchill Show. “Let me start by clarifying that I am not a judge or a magistrate, and neither am I a lawyer,” she says. In contrast to the no-nonsense persona she portrays on television, Wangui is cheerful and approachable. Now in her sixties, the lines on Wangui’s face are evidence of a long and fruitful life. Born second in a family of seven children, Wangui is one among four surviving siblings. When they were little, their parents moved the family from Murang’a to Nairobi long before Kenya’s independence in 1963. They moved into a single room in Kariokor, an estate which was initially built to shelter horses. Later, her father moved them to a bigger house in Ziwani where the family settled permanently. Wangui’s father, Kanogo Gichomo, owned several shops along Nairobi’s River Road. His business earned him enough to sustain his family and to provide basic education for his children. Her mother, Jane Nyambura, was also a businessperson who sold her wares in Kariokor market and also doubled up as an actress, earning extra money by appearing in local television advertisements. It was through her mother’s flourishing career that Wangui would discover her own actLet me start by clarifying that I am not a judge or a magistrate, and neither am I a lawyer - Lucy Wangui ing talent. “My mother laid the foundation for my acting career,” she says. “I used to see how she was in real life and how she acted on the television adverts,” she says, adding that she found it so fascinating that she wanted in. “That’s how I decided to become an actress, too.” However, her acting dream would remain just that until she completed her education. She attended Saint Brigid Primary School and then sat for her ‘O’ levels at the Shree Cutchi Gujarati Hindu Union School in Parklands. While in school, Wangui was an active participant in school drama activities. Her golden opportunity came knocking as she was attending Pansom’s Business College, which was situated along Biashara Street, pursuing a secretarial, copy typing and telephone operations course. The year was 1975 and a Producer at the State broadcaster KBC, known as the Voice of Kenya (VoK) in those days, was looking for actors for a new production. The show, Jamii ya Mzee Pembe (The Family of Mr Pembe), was a drama series about the daily lives of Mzee Pembe and his family. Wangui’s mother got wind of the opportunity and WORDS OF WISDOM told her daughter to give it a try. Behind her father’s back, Wangui went for the auditions and was chosen to play one of Mzee Pembe’s daughters. This was the defining moment of Wangui’s life. “As soon as I got my first acting role, I knew this was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life,” she says. Unfortunately, she met stiff opposition from her father. He was so against the idea that it created a huge rift between them. Like most fathers, he wanted his daughter to settle into a ‘sensible’ career. To steer her onto the right path, he got her a job at Elliott’s Kenya Limited, a breadbaking company. She worked there for two years, performing secretarial and administrative duties. “I hated it. I just didn’t fit into that job. I had the skills and the relevant training, but it’s not where I wanted to be,” she says. Wangui’s heart was in acting. So she decided to juggle both jobs, one as a secretary • Trust in God, depend on faithful friends and speak positive affirmations. • Take time and cultivate energy to accomplish what you want. • Choose the right friends. • Be patient, ignore what people think and be yourself. • Be quick to forgive, don’t hold grudges. • Read the Bible. • Read good books and articles. at Elliott’s and the other as an actress at VoK. This went on for a while until the fatigue and inconvenience of working two demanding jobs caught up with her. Eventually she had to make a decision between the two. She chose acting. “When I told my father that I had quit the secretarial job, he was furious. We had a major altercation, after which I left home to start life on my own,” she recalls. That was one of the most difficult times of her life, but her mother’s support kept her going. “My mother would tell me to ignore my father’s ranting and focus on building my career,” she says. Away from her father’s controlling influence, she embraced the performing arts and dedicated her time to developing her TV role and writing music. She realised quickly that recording music was too expensive, so she re-directed all her energy to acting. By this time, Vioja Mahakamani was already on air. As fate would have it, the actress playing the role of magistrate, the late Anne Wanjugu, was poached by an international production house. VoK offered Wangui the job. That was the beginning of Wangui’s decades-long vibrant journey as the judge on Vioja Mahakamani. It would also mark the turning point in her sour relationship with her father.
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