Celebrated author and dramatist David Mulwa dies at 80

Veteran thespian and writer David Mulwa has passed away, his family and the broader literary community have announced.

Mulwa died on Friday, December 5, 2025, at the age of 80 while receiving treatment for cardiac arrest in a Nairobi hospital.

A prolific playwright, Mulwa authored numerous works, including Inheritance, Clean Hands, Redemption, Master and Servant, Daraja, Bahati’s Love Nest, and We Come in Peace.

He also co-authored Buriani, Ukame, and Mkimbizi with A. S. Yahya, and published Glasshouses, Crocodile’s Jaw, Katende Says “No”, We Come in Peace, and Flee, Mama Flee.

Mulwa also made his mark on film and television, appearing in productions such as Eyes of a Witness and Dangerous Affair.

Born in 1945 in Mukaa, Machakos County, Mulwa studied at the University of Nairobi and published before earning a Master’s degree in theatre from UCLA, supported by a Rockefeller Foundation scholarship.

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He began his teaching career at Mukaa High School and Kangundo High School between 1968 and 1970, later serving as a teaching assistant at Ohio University from 1979 to 1980.

Mulwa eventually moved to Kenyatta University, where he became a central figure at the School of Visual and Performing Arts, nurturing generations of theatre practitioners.

A seasoned adjudicator at the Kenya Drama Festivals since 1978, Mulwa also served on the governing council of the Kenya Cultural Centre Committee.

His immense contribution to the arts earned him numerous accolades, including the Kalasha Award for Lifetime Achievement, a Theatre Lifetime Achievement Award, and a Hero’s Award from the Kenyatta University governing council.

Mulwa marked his 80th birthday on April 9, 2025, celebrating with friends, family, fans, and former students at a gathering in Nairobi.

By Joseph Mambili

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