Benson Wanjau: A Look at the Life of Mzee Ojwang

Benson Wanjau, popularly known as Mzee Ojwang, was a renowned Kenyan comedian. Here are some notable facts about his life:

1. He was born in 1937 in Nyeri District, Tetu Division.
2. His favorite subject in school was mathematics, which he studied at CMS Primary in Pumwani, Nairobi.
3. Mzee Ojwang dropped out of Form Two due to financial constraints.
4. He was married to Augusta Wanjiru, and they had two children together, Patricia Njeri and Michael Karira.
5. The families of Mzee Ojwang and Mama Kayai (Mary Khavere) were close friends in real life.
6. Before becoming a comedian, he worked as a technician at Mater Hospital for four years and previously at White Rose Dry Cleaners in Industrial Area.
7. Mzee Ojwang began his acting career on the Voice of Kenya (now Kenya Broadcasting Corporation) program Darubini in 1980, which ended in 1985 when Vitimbi started airing.
8. Despite his accent on Vitimbi, Mzee Ojwang never spoke Dholuo.
9. The stage name 'Ojwang' originated from a friend who asked him to remember him after retirement.
10. Mzee Ojwang met Mama Kayai 33 years before the time of this account.