KBC counters claim of ‘poor’ pay for actors with YouTube video
KBC has posted online a video of a former actress admitting to good pay, in a bid to discredit widespread claims that the State broadcaster has been underpaying its thespians.
Lucy Wangui, who acted as the stern judge on Vioja Mahakamani, told a KBC interviewer during the Kenya at 50 series that all actors and actresses were well remunerated and had managed to buy cars, build own houses and educated their children through universities, some abroad.
Here are the excerpts from the interview:
Interviewer: How has the acting scene changed since the early seventies?
Wangui (ex-judge): Hata leo sasa ndio kumekuwa kuzuri; KBC inatulipa vizuri. Nafikiri artistes wale unaona katika Vitimbi na Vioja (Mahakamani) kila mtu ana gari; kila mtu ana nyumba yake, hatuishi nyumba za kulipa. Na kuna wengine wana plots wamekodisha; una tenants ambao wakati mwingine haingewezekana. Lakini kulingana na vile tunalipwa, mtu anaweza kujiweka vizuri. Maanake mtu kama ‘prosecutor’ watoto wake watatu walikuwa university na wote wamemaliza wamegraduate mmoja ameenda kufanya Master’s yake huko Switzerland na ni hiyo hiyo pesa ya acting ya hapa KBC. Mimi nimesomesha mtoto wangu amekwenda UK pia akahitimu, amerudi hapa na anaishi vizuri. Kwa hivyo hata sasa ndio mambo yamekuwa mazuri.
The accusations against KBC came to the fore last week on Thursday after Vitimbi actor Mzee Ojwang’ (Benson Wanjau) was admitted at Lions Eye Hospital in Loresho with failing eye sight and depression.
Mzee Ojwang complained about the manner KBC kicked them out.
“I think it’s because of that stress. We worked at KBC for 40 years and we go nothing (in the end),” he said.
Mary Khavere, who used to act as Mama Kayai, the loyal wife of Mzee Ojwang’ said:
“Not even a coin. Not even a notice to inform you that from this date you are out of work. They (KBC) woke up one day and said take a walk.”