This archive report was first published on 19 July 2020.
Charles Bukeko, popularly known as Papa Shirandula, was a renowned Kenyan actor and entertainer who left behind a legacy of wealth and awards. He died on July 18, 2020, after contracting the coronavirus.
Before his rise to fame, Bukeko worked as a voice-over artist for radio stations, earning a modest Sh. 30,000 for his first big pay in the entertainment industry. However, it was his starring role in the popular Coca Cola advert in 2001 that catapulted him to fame, earning him a cool Sh. 15 million.
He went on to feature in several multi-million shilling adverts for firms such as Vodacom, MultiChoice, and Safaricom, cementing his status as one of the most sought-after characters in local media advertising. His long-running show on Citizen TV employed over 1,500 people, further increasing his wealth.
Papa Shirandula's net worth was estimated to be in excess of Sh. 50 million, a testament to his successful career in the entertainment industry. He received multiple awards, including the Best Actor in a TV series at the Kalasha Awards in 2010.
Throughout his career, Papa Shirandula starred in several movies, including Constant Gardener, The Captain of Nakara, Maloon, and Makutano Junction. He was married to Beatrice Ebbie Andega and had three children, Tony, Charlie, and Wendy.
