Ken Wakuraya Credits Tahidi High for Launching His Career in Media
Ken Wakuraya, a popular news anchor at Inooro TV, has attributed his success in the media industry to his early days as an actor on the famous TV drama, Tahidi High.
Speaking to The media , Wakuraya revealed that the show offered a platform for young people to showcase their talents and hone their skills, which later helped them in their respective careers.
Wakuraya, who played the role of Teacher Kandi on Tahidi High, said that he owes everything he has achieved in his career to the show. Before joining Tahidi High, Wakuraya used to act in Kikuyu comedies in River Road.
He added that he learned a lot from the show, which not only helped him to grow his talent but also to develop his character and personality.
Born in Ndaragwa to a single mother, Wa Kuraya is a last born of 5 siblings. After clearing his secondary education at Ol Kalou High school, he wanted to open a barber shop but the popular actor sought business in Nairobi and worked in a pharmacy.
Wa Kuraya had a proclivity for the arts: “I used to love performing poems. I wrote a few for Taifa Leo. I joined the legendary Wahome Mutahi (Whispers) and did a few performances.
“I got an acting gig for one of Kenya’s largest banks. Sadly, they decided to pay me less than I expected and that made me bitter. That’s when I decided to quit acting,” tells Wa Kuraya.
The two years of TV acting prepared him for the next stage of his TV career as a news anchor. When Wa Kuraya heard that Royal Media Services was opening a Kikuyu TV station, he decided to give it a try and he became Inooro Tv’s prime time news anchor.
Tahidi High, which aired on Citizen TV from 2006 to 2015, was a popular drama series that revolved around the lives of high school students. It was renowned for its talented cast, which included Abel Mutua, Dennis Mugo, Shirleen Wangari, Ted Kitana, Philip Karanja, Jackie Matubia, Angel Waruinge, and Joseph Omari, among others.
Wakuraya’s success story is just one of the many examples of how Tahidi High has helped to nurture and develop young talent in Kenya’s entertainment industry.
The show was a breeding ground for some of the most notable actors, actresses, and media personalities in the country, who went on to achieve great success in their respective careers.