By Danson J Kireti
A script is like a person in coma. However, the extent of revival is dependent on the wide range of skills an actor is able to display to make it energetic and bring it to life.To express it’s emotions with an objective of leaving a lasting impression on people’s lives.
Maureen Koech is one bubbly diva who has mastered the art of stage presence. She exudes confidence and performs with zeal that leaves the audience talking. Her promising act isn’t as a result of fate. It all started way back in Nakuru High School when she joined the drama club having to learn the fundamentals of acting. Later she joined Strathmore Drama Society [DRAMSCO] and her passion connected her to the audience for the first time on stage at the Alliance Francaise .
Patricia in action in Lies That Bind
Before her big break as cast in Lies That Bind, she was considered a mere supporting cast in Changing Times. By then, Spielworks Media had advertised auditions for a new show that would later take Kenya by storm. Lies That Bind went viral. It made actors helter skelter. They travelled abruptly, cancelled commitments all with an aim to participate in this expedient undertaking that they regarded with utmost importance. Maureen Koech too was in the queues without fail. She auditioned for Patricia’s role. She played a young naïve rebellious daughter born out of wedlock to Salome the third wife and true love to the late Richard Juma. In 2012, Maureen Koech won the award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Lies That Bind in the inaugural Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards that was held in Lagos, Nigeria
Maureen Koech in Lagos Nigeria at the AMVCA after bagging the award for Best Supporting Actress
No man is an Island; we all need a shoulder to lean on and this makes Frederick Dharshie a talent manager be of great value to Maureen. He played a great role in nurturing her craft. Her role of Patricia geared off as a supporting cast and later accelerated to become one of the main characters that endeared fans to watch the show. Maureen considers her fans to decide whether she is a celeb and explicates it to be a person others love and emulate.
Maureen Koech0[Left] and Frederick Dharshie
She featured in a short film “Sticking Ribbons” that addresses drug addiction and its implications which was the only Kenyan film that bagged an award at the Zanzibar International Film Festival 2014. Her appearance on screen makes her want to deliver more. It promises her of a bright future that is born out of hard work, determination and most important believing in oneself.
She lets her chicks hatch first not revealing what is in store. “God willing, I shall be following in Lupita’s shoes. She’s my biggest inspiration and role model. I also love my talents, zeal, beauty and strength. Acting makes me experience the character, emotions and stories that others wish to tell”.
Not only does she act but is an upcoming musician by the name Mokko.Her style is more of house music and ha released a debut music video “Be Afraid”.
Maureen Koech’s debut album “Be Afraid”
“I will forever be thankful to Spielworks Media for giving me an opportunity when
my dream, talent and I were still young and yearning. May God bless
Spielworks! are her parting words