Former Machachari actor MaDVD has opened up about his continued friendship with Ian Nene, popularly known as Almasi, revealing that online criticism has made the former child star hesitant about returning to Kenya.
Speaking during an interview on Monday, August 24, MaDVD said he still keeps in touch with Ian and sometimes meets him in the UK, where the actor now lives. According to MaDVD, Ian has had to deal with harsh comments from Kenyans, despite having grown up in the public eye from a young age.
MaDVD speaks on Almasi’s experience
MaDVD and Ian became familiar faces to Kenyan television viewers through Machachari, where they played characters whose lives and friendships were followed by audiences for years.
At the peak of Machachari’s popularity, Almasi was one of the most talked-about characters on Kenyan television. His role as the confident youngster from a well-off family brought humour and excitement to the show, making him a favourite among viewers.
He relocated to the United Kingdom to further his studies, marking a major turning point in his life. Earlier this year, he celebrated graduating from the University of Kent, a milestone that was warmly received by fans who had watched him grow from a child actor into a young professional.
While MaDVD continued to interact with fans after the show, Ian has largely kept a lower profile as he pursued life away from the Kenyan entertainment scene. MaDVD said he often reminds Ian that the criticism he receives is part of the difficult side of being known in Kenya.
“I always tell him, that’s just how Kenyans are,” MaDVD said, while acknowledging that Kenyans can be particularly harsh when commenting about public figures online.
He believes the constant criticism has affected Ian to the point that returning to Kenya has become difficult for him.
MaDVD recalls introducing Ian to matatu rides
Beyond their work on Machachari, MaDVD said his friendship with Ian continued outside the show. He recalled introducing Ian to riding a matatu for the first time, saying the experience was new to the former child actor because he had grown up in an affluent family.
The experience showed a different side of their relationship away from the characters they played on television. MaDVD is now asking Kenyans to give Ian more understanding, especially considering that he grew up under public attention.
MaDVD opens up about online trolling
MaDVD also reflected on his own experience with online criticism, particularly comments about his weight. The actor recalled being subjected to body-shaming by Kenyans, with some people making jokes about his appearance.
He said some of the comments included claims that he had “swallowed a hoover”, “eaten the whole script” or “eaten a speaker”. The experience, he suggested, gave him a better understanding of how hurtful online comments can become when they are repeatedly directed at someone.
Life after Machachari
For both actors, life after Machachari has taken a different direction. MaDVD has remained connected to entertainment and continues to engage audiences, while Ian has pursued his life away from the Kenyan television industry.
Their time on Machachari, however, remains an important part of their careers, having introduced them to audiences while they were still young.
