Veteran actor Gibson Gathu who played the role of court prosecutor in the local drama series Vioja Mahakamani is dead.
The veteran actor took his final bow on Thursday morning, December 22, national broadcaster KBC confirmed.
His death was first announced by his son, who said the celebrated actor developed complications in September, after he underwent a kidney transplant.
In this article, WoK looks at programs he has been featured in.
Vioja Mahakamani
Vioja Mahakamani is a Kenyan comedy series showing on KBC and one of the country’s most popular television shows.
The show has been broadcast for 25 years.
Gathi played the role of prosecutor on the drama series for years until the COVID-19 when the production was stopped.
Vitimbi
Vitimbi is a Kenyan television comedy show that premiered in 1985 on Kenya Broadcasting Corporation then known as Voice of Kenya.
The show revolved around the family of Mzee Ojwang and her wife Mama Kayai as they experience challenges of managing a restaurant.
The show was controversially ended in 2014 after airing for more than 30 years because the actors were deemed too old.
Gathu was part of veteran actors that appeared on the show.
Varshita
Produced by Moonbeam Productions, Varshita is a romantic comedy series featuring Eve D’sousa and Maqbul Mohammed as a young couple from completely different backgrounds.
This program charts the much-loved, toxic relationship of the couple, and how their families struggle to co-exist peacefully.
The late Gathi was also privileged to appear on the TV series that currently airs on streaming platform, Showmax.
Jungu Kuu
Jungu Kuu is a local drama series that featured local veteran actors that aired on Mediamax-owned K24 TV.
Most of the actors that featured on the TV series were cast of Vitimbi, although they had incorporated new acts such as Nice Githinji and Aliwah.
During the premiere, Gathu hit out at the government for failure to support arts.
“It is unfortunate that Kenya has no policy that supports actors, which would have a designated budget that would help in the growth and development of the entertainment industry as government support,” he said.
The Air Up There
The Air Up There is a 1994 American sports comedy film telling a story about a college basketball assistant coach who wants to find a new star for his team.
One of the most dramatic scenes in the film involves the instruction of Saleh by Dolan regarding the “Jimmy Dolan Shake and Bake.”
Gathu is among Kenyan acts who appeared on the show.
The deceased veteran actor also appeared in Zuberi Kivunja Mbavu and Mchezo Wa Hadithi programs.
