By Eddah Waithaka
After 15 years in the industry, Michael Saruni is finally stepping into the spotlight and bearing his soul. The veteran actor, known for his authentic portrayals of Kenyan life, takes on his first-ever lead role in Daudi Anguka’s gripping new series, Mizani.
He plays Suleiman, a struggling single father navigating Mombasa’s shadowy underworld in search of purpose. For Saruni, the role is deeply personal.
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“That’s why Suleiman came naturally,” Saruni reveals. “I have a four-year-old son. I imagined what if this happened to my child. How would I react? That emotion helped me in many scenes.” The journey to Mizani almost didn’t happen.
Saruni had long admired Anguka’s work as the Coast region’s biggest producer and even considered reaching out for a gig but never made the call.
Months later, he found himself shooting in Mombasa.”God works in interesting ways,” he says.Saruni’s path to this moment wasn’t straightforward.
He started acting at 17 but took a critical break to “figure life out.””There’s life on set and then there’s real life,” he explains. “If you don’t balance the two, you lose one. Acting wasn’t paying well at the time. I needed a way to survive beyond the camera. Because when the set ends, life doesn’t stop.” That real-world experience now fuels his performances.
For Mizani, he drew inspiration from investigative journalists like John Allan Namu and Moha Jicho Pevu, grounding his character in authenticity.Off-screen, Saruni unwinds by playing basketball, sleeping, and cooking for loved ones, he even made samosas for the Mizani crew.
His last appearance was in the Showmax Original The Chocolate Empire, but he believes the industry’s future lies in actors owning their stories.”Audiences follow people,” Saruni notes.
“Just like globally you’ll watch a movie because Will Smith is in it, even before you know the plot. Kenya is getting there. To survive, we need job security and that means owning our work.”
He points to the growing connection with fans who saw him in Chocolate Empire and are now watching Mizani, asking, “What next?””The best way to win audiences is to tell our own stories,” he says.
“Suleiman is just a guy next door. A father. Someone struggling. I was raised at the Coast. I know the culture. That authenticity matters, and audiences feel it.”As for what comes next? Saruni hints at a future behind the camera.”Watch this space.”
