Voice-over artists in Kenya are becoming increasingly sought after in the media industry.
From TV and radio commercials to documentaries and various projects, these talented individuals use their voices to captivate audiences and bring brands to life.
Unsurprisingly, these individuals are earning big bucks with their vocal prowess.
According to the Daily Nation, radio stations pay at least sh 5 000 to voice-over artists per classified commercial.
On the other hand, advertising houses and production agencies pay as low as sh 15 000 to as high as sh 450 000 depending on one’s expertise and the client’s budget.
In this article, WoK takes a closer look at some of the voices behind Kenya’s most iconic commercials:
Arabron Osanya
Arabron Osanya, famous for his role in Citizen TV’s “Mother-in-Law” series as Jack Mwamba, is not only an exceptional actor but also a renowned voice-over artist.
With his deep and captivating voice, he has voiced numerous commercials, plays, and other acting projects. He began his career in 1997 with a voice-over gig for Tusker, targeting the Tanzanian market.
However, his most famous role was as the voice behind the Dettol advert’s iconic ending phrase, “Dettol, be 100% sure.” Osanya has reportedly earned as much as sh 300,000 for a 30-second commercial.
Cynthia Kimola
Cynthia Kimola’s voice is familiar to many Kenyans, thanks to her work in various advertisements. She gained fame as the voice of the coastal cow in the iconic KCC Maziwa Origi TV ad.
However, her talent has not been limited to Kenya alone. She recently voiced a promotional piece for US singer Khalid’s new single, “New Normal”.
Her partnership with global brands like YouTube, Google, UNICEF, and Safaricom has propelled her career to new heights.
Robert Randall
If you pay attention to TV ads or have listened to Radio Maisha, chances are you’ve encountered Robert Randall’s rich and deep voice.
Randall started his voice-over career as a producer at Family Media before becoming the voice of Telcom Kenya, Kenya Commercial Bank, Nokia, Barclays, Duracoat, and many other notable brands.
After working as a radio producer and voice-over artist for Capital FM and Homeboyz Radio, he eventually set up his own production house.
For him, the average pay for a 45-second commercial is between sh 45 000 to sh 50 000.
Mwakazi etched his name in the annals of history during his 8-year stint at Royal Media, a time that saw him become the voice of Citizen TV courtesy of his deep voice.
He quit Citizen in May 2014 and went on to occupy senior roles in media and marketing, including as CEO of Fountain Media Group and as Director of his own company, Royal Voice International.
Through his company, he continues earning hefty paychecks from Royal Media, doing voiceovers for various ads and documentaries.
Jennifer Kanari
“The person you’re calling cannot be reached, if you wish to leave a voice message, then please do so after the tone.”
Does this message sound familiar? That is the automatic answering message used by Safaricom on its mobile phone network service.
The message was brought to life in 2009 by Jennifer Eniye Kanari.
Today, if you call Kenya Power, the voice on the other end of the line will say: “Welcome to the Kenya Power Stima Plaza.”
That too is Kanari’s voice. Although one may be excused for thinking that the two voices belong to two different people, Kanari explains that each voice embodies different personalities.
She is an international voice actor and communication coach based in Kenya.
David Wartnaby
If you’re a fan of Classic 105 or Kiss 100, you are probably familiar with David Wartnaby’s voice. He is the man behind the catchphrase “Classic 105. Good times and Great Hits.”
Known simply as ‘the man with the voice’, the London-based voice-over artist is one of the world’s most sought-after voices.
His impressive clients include CNN International, the BBC, National Geographic, Spotify, Xbox, and Ikea, among others.
Peter Kyalo
If you were fortunate enough to access television in 2013, you are probably familiar with the popular Faiba animation advert by Jamii Telcoms.
If you didn’t know, Peter Kyalo’s voice was behind the animation. He is also the voice of CITAM-owned Hope FM.
The Faiba ad was created by Michael Muthiga, who has been featured severally by Forbes in the Top 30 under 30 categories.
