This archive report was first published on 5 July 2019.
Ken wa Kuraya, the charismatic news anchor of Inooro TV, has come a long way from his days as a struggling actor. Born to be a star, Kuraya's journey to the top was not an easy one.
Before becoming a household name, Kuraya worked at a pharmacy, constructed houses, and even sold second-hand clothes. Despite his best efforts, he was evicted from his Kayole house for lack of rent.
However, Kuraya's passion for acting never wavered. While working in construction, he would often act in clubs along River Road, donning his construction clothes as a makeshift costume.
As Kuraya recalled in a past interview, 'We acted with our construction clothes, people thought that was a trend we were starting but it was not. We acted with those clothes because we did not have a choice. I became a river road celeb.'
Fast forward to Thursday, when Kuraya took to social media to reminisce about his struggling days. He shared a picture of himself playing a female character, a move he had to take to get a job in a male-dominated industry.
With a caption that read, 'This pic reminds me back then. How I desperately wanted to join an acting group, How nobody thought I would, How difficult it got when I decided to follow my dream & passion. How I had to survive on one weekly Nyt show only to get paid Sh400 in the morning, how that cash was enough for me and anyone who depended on me. How I had to master the female character to get a job as men dominated the industry. This pic reminds me how!! #tumitekuraya #tbt', Kuraya's post has left many in awe of his determination and perseverance.
