While Film and TV actors are poorly paid in Kenya, other countries in Africa are paying their artists fairly or better than Kenya.
For instance, in South Africa, top actors or A-list actors pocket a months salary between Ksh.170,000 to Ksh.420,000. Which is good for actors to survive and live a better celebrity lifestyle.
While in Nigeria, every month A-list actors received a salary of about Ksh.100,000 to Ksh.300,000 per film.
But how about in Kenya, actually there is nothing to smile about. Here artists struggle to live through their daily needs living on even sometimes unpaid film salary dues.
Let’s have a look at Kenyan actors salary distribution.
TV Drama Actors
They are normally paid per episode, which run an average of about 40 minutes
- Top A-List actors – Ksh.25,000
- Newbies playing lead role- Ksh.10,000
- Supporting Actors – Ksh.10,000- Ksh.15,000
- Actors with lines – Ksh.10,000
- Actors without lines – Ksh.7,000
- Extras with lines – Ksh.5,000
- Extras without lines – Ksh.2,000
Every show runs on average of 4 times a week depending on days of the week the show will be aired on that month.
The highest actors like Papa Shirandula and Inspector Mwala will pocket about Ksh.100,000 will the lowest actor will receive Ksh.8,000.
Film Actors
With the government having neglected the film industry, it is one of the most adversely affected by the financial constrains.
They are basically paid per movies as opposed to the monthly basis.
Have a look
- A- list actors playing lead role – Ksh.100,000
- Supporting actors – Ksh.70,000
- Extras with lines – Ksh. 15,000
- Extras without lines – Ksh.2,000
Brand ambassadors
While the career does not pay, these actors take advantage of being celebrities and mint money via advertorial deals from various top companies in Kenya such as Safaricom .
David Mwambili aka Inspekta Mwala and Papa Shirandula have made millions from being brand ambassadors of various firms in Kenya.
