Veteran Kenyan theatre icon David Mulwa dies after long illness Veteran Kenyan actor, writer, director and university lecturer David Mulwa has died after a long illness, his family has confirmed.
Mulwa, a well known figure in Kenyan theatre for over five decades, was celebrated for his immense contribution to drama, education and creative arts in the country.
Mulwa, born on April 9, 1945, in Mukaa, Machakos County, is regarded as a living legend of Kenyan theatre.
Over his distinguished career, he earned Head of State Commendations from two different presidents and several lifetime achievement awards for shaping generations of actors, writers and directors.
He rose from humble beginnings, learning to read and write from his father while herding cattle. He later studied at Mukaa African Inland Mission Intermediate School and Machakos Boys High School, where his passion for writing and acting took root.
Mulwa went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of East Africa in Nairobi, a Master’s degree in Theatre Arts from UCLA through a Rockefeller Foundation scholarship, and later pursued a PhD at Ohio University, where he also worked as a teaching assistant.
In academia, Mulwa joined Kenyatta University in 1974 as a tutorial fellow and rose to become a senior lecturer and Director of the Performing and Creative Arts Centre.
He taught theatre history, playwriting, directing and acting, mentoring thousands of students who now populate Kenya’s creative industry.
As a creative, Mulwa was a prolific playwright, actor and director, appearing in stage and screen productions including Dangerous Affair and Behind Closed Doors.
He published over 20 books, many of which became set texts in Kenyan schools. His most famous play, Inheritance (2004), remains one of the most widely studied literary works in the country.
Other notable works include Master and Servant (1987), Redemption (1990), Clean Hands (2000), We Come in Peace (2011) and Flee, Mama Flee (2014).
Beyond performance and writing, Mulwa was a renowned adjudicator at schools and colleges drama festivals and a respected mentor in the arts community.
His numerous accolades include Lifetime Achievement Awards at the Kalasha Awards (2011) and the Sanaa Theatre Awards (2014), the Outstanding Theatre Personality Award from the East Africa Theatre Institute, and the Kenya@50 Heroes Award from Kenyatta University.
David Mulwa’s death marks the end of an era in Kenyan theatre, but his legacy lives on through his students, his works and the countless stages he shaped across the country.
by Leticia Afandi
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