Cindy Kahuha
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| Cindy Kahuha | |
|---|---|
| Born | Cindy Makena Kahuha November 9, 1998 Nairobi, Kenya |
| Other names | Makena Kahuha |
| 🏫 Education | Bachelor of Arts in Psychology |
| 🎓 Alma mater | University of Nairobi |
| 💼 Occupation |
|
| 📆 Years active | 2003–present |
| Known for | |
| 👴 👵 Parent(s) |
|
Cindy Kahuha (also known as Makena Kahuha; born November 9, 1998) is a Kenyan actress, stage performer, and producer. She is known for her work in television, theatre and streaming productions, including her role as Zuri Tandala in the Maisha Magic Plus drama series Kina.[1][2] She has also appeared in the Netflix series Country Queen and the Showmax science fiction series Subterranea.[3]
Kahuha is part of a generation of Kenyan actors contributing to the international visibility of the country's film and television industry, particularly through productions distributed on global streaming platforms.
Early life and education
Kahuha was born and raised in Nairobi, Kenya. She is the daughter of Kenyan actress and stage comedian Esther Kahuha, whose career influenced her early interest in acting and performance.[4]
She began participating in drama activities at a young age and was exposed to professional acting environments early in her life. She attended St. Elizabeth Academy and Le Pic Primary School before proceeding to Loreto High School, Kiambu. She later completed her secondary education at Wellspring Academy.[2]
Kahuha enrolled at the University of Nairobi, where she pursued studies in psychology.[5]
Career
Early career and theatre
Kahuha began her acting career as a child, appearing in the Swahili television drama Wingu La Moto, where she acted alongside her mother.[6] This early exposure introduced her to the Kenyan television industry and laid the foundation for her later work in both screen and stage acting.[4]
She later created and performed the one-woman stage production Miss Understood, a semi-autobiographical piece exploring generational conflict and identity among young women in Kenya.[7] The production was staged at the Kenya National Theatre and received recognition within the local theatre scene.[8][9] Her theatre background has been central to her development as a performer, particularly in character-driven storytelling and live performance techniques.[10]
Television and film
Kahuha gained wider recognition for her role as Zuri Tandala in the Maisha Magic Plus drama series Kina, where she portrayed a young woman navigating complex family relationships and social pressures.[11][1]
She later appeared in the Netflix drama series Country Queen.[3] In 2024, she starred in the Showmax science fiction series Subterranea, portraying dual roles as twins Kate and Lucy Adema.[12] The series represented one of the first major science fiction productions in Kenya and marked a shift toward genre diversification in the local industry.[13][14]
In 2025, Kahuha joined the cast of MTV Shuga Mashariki, a continuation of the long-running MTV Shuga franchise. She portrayed the character Zena in the series, which focuses on youth culture, relationships and social issues affecting young people in Kenya.[15][16] She has also been cast in the Showmax original drama series The Chocolate Empire, a Kenyan production centered on themes of power, wealth and ambition within Nairobi’s elite circles.[17]
Beyond television, Kahuha has also worked in digital content production. She served as an executive producer and cast member on the web series Mid Young Crisis, reflecting her engagement with emerging digital storytelling platforms.[18][19]
Her additional screen credits include appearances in Burnt Forest,[6] Is This Your Daughter and the Danish production Liberty, demonstrating her involvement in both local and international productions.[8]
Filmography
Television and film
| Year | Title | Role | Format | Notes | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Wingu La Moto | TV Series | Child actor debut | [6] | |
| 2013 | Burnt Forest | Mumbi | Short Film | Lead role | [20] |
| 2015 | Is This Your daughter? | Ciku | Short Film | ||
| 2017 | Tom | Short Film | |||
| 2018 | Supa Modo | Halima | Drama | Supporting role | |
| 2018 | Liberty | Claire | TV Mini Series | Danish production | |
| 2019 | Ensulo | Feature Film | |||
| 2020 | Kina | Zuri Tandala | TV Series | Main cast | [2][11][3] |
| 2022 | Country Queen | Young Akisa | TV Series | Netflix series | [3] |
| 2022 | Sleep | Soila | Feature Film | Thriler | |
| 2024 | Subterranea | Kate Adema / Lucy Adema | TV Series | Showmax original sci-fi | [12][13] |
| 2025–Present | MTV Shuga Mashariki | Zena | TV series | Citizen TV | [15][16] |
| 2025 | The Chocolate Empire | Ebony | TV Series | Showmax | [17] |
Theatre
| Year | Title | Role | Director | Theatre | Notes | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Miss Undestood | as herself | Cindy Kahuha | Kenya National Theatre | Monologue | [7][9][8] |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Show | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Kalasha Awards | Best Lead Actress Film | Burnt Forest | Nominated | [21] |
| 2023 | Kenya Theatre Awards | Best Breakthrough Female Performer | Nominated | [22][23] | |
| 2026 | Kenya Theatre Awards | Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Monologue | Miss Understood | Won | [24] |
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Kina: Out Goes Sanaipei Tande, In Comes Mbeki Mwalimu". 2023-02-17. Retrieved 2026-03-26.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "A heart to heart with Cindy Kahuha (Zuri on Kina)". Maisha Magic Plus. DStv. Retrieved 2026-03-26.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "Interesting facts about actress Makena Kahuha". www.mpasho.co.ke. Retrieved 2026-03-26.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Standard Entertainment. "Esther Kahuha and learning to do it all". The Standard. Retrieved 2026-03-26.
- ↑ "List of underrated Kenyan actors and actresses who deserve more credit". www.mpasho.co.ke. Retrieved 2026-03-26.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 "Makena Kahuha: From Wingu la Moto to Netflix and acting secrets she learned from six". Daily Nation. 2025-11-16. Retrieved 2026-03-26.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Miss Understood: Raw and Unfiltered". SanaaPost News. 2025-05-09. Retrieved 2026-03-26.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Owino, Anjellah. "'Miss Understood': Makena Kahuha's bold one-woman play digs deep into Gen Z-millennial tensions". www.tnx.africa. Retrieved 2026-03-26.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Owino, Anjellah. "'Miss Understood': Makena Kahuha's bold one-woman play digs deep into Gen Z-millennial tensions". The Standard. Retrieved 2026-03-26.
- ↑ "LOCAL PLAYS END WITH A BANG UNRESOLVED". Kenyan Arts Review. Retrieved 2026-03-26.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Meet the cast of the hit drama series Kina". Showmax Stories. Retrieved 2026-03-26.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Opondo, Agnes (2024-09-18). "Inside The Screening of Kenya's First Sci-Fi Series - Subterranea". KenyanVibe. Retrieved 2026-03-26.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Nzyoka, Nzula (2024-09-26). "What to expect from Kenyan Sci-Fi 'Subterranea'". KBC Digital. Retrieved 2026-03-26.
- ↑ "Kenyan sci-fi series Subterranea concludes with all episodes available on Showmax - Expression Africa". 2024-11-13. Retrieved 2026-03-26.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 "The Comeback of MTV Shuga Mashariki". Citizen Digital. 2025-05-22. Retrieved 2026-03-26.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 Ochieng', Jennifer (2025-03-18). "Meet the Young Cast Leading ‘MTV Shuga Mashariki’". Sinema Focus. Retrieved 2026-03-26.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 "The Chocolate Empire, new Showmax original cast connect with 'Ghost' at CCI Kenya". SanaaPost News. 2025-03-19. Retrieved 2026-03-26.
- ↑ Tonui, Patricia (2025-10-10). "Real Bugi Speaks about Upcoming Film Mid Young Crisis - Tuko.co.ke". www.tuko.co.ke. Retrieved 2026-03-26.
- ↑ "Excitement as Brian Kabugi's New Film 'Mid Young Crisis: The Return' Premieres". www.mpasho.co.ke. Retrieved 2026-03-26.
- ↑ "Meet Makena Kahuha: The Kenyan Actress Inspired by MTV Shuga East to Create Her Own Play". www.mpasho.co.ke. Retrieved 2026-03-26.
- ↑ "Film Commission announces Kalasha Award nominees, and new CEO". The Kenya Forum. 2014-06-10. Retrieved 2026-03-26.
- ↑ "Kenya Theatre Awards 2023: All the winners". Music In Africa. Retrieved 2026-03-26.
- ↑ Kinyanjui, Derrick (2023-02-20). "THE KENYA THEATRE AWARDS 2ND EDITION 2023 - SanaaPost Talents". Retrieved 2026-03-26.
- ↑ Ochieng', Jennifer (2026-03-02). "Kenya Theatre Awards 2026: Margaretta wa Gacheru, Tobit Tom and Makena Kahuha Among Winners". Sinema Focus. Retrieved 2026-03-26.
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