Charlie Karumi

EARLY LIFE

Charles Karumi Maina was born on 17 August 1991 in Nairobi, Kenya, and grew up in the Uthiru neighbourhood on the outskirts of the city. He attended Genesis Primary School in Uthiru, later transferring to Visa Oshwal Primary in Westlands and White Cottage Primary in Gachie, where he completed his Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) in 2005. He proceeded to Alliance High School in Kikuyu for secondary education, completing his Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) in 2008. It was at Alliance that he discovered his passion for performance through the school’s drama club, The Dramatics Society, participating in national award-winning plays. In 2009 he enrolled at Strathmore University in Nairobi, graduating in April 2013 with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Information Technology (BBIT).

CAREER

Karumi began performing on stage while at university, training and appearing with the Phoenix Players theatre group in Nairobi. He was spotted by producer Dorothy Ghettuba and secured early television work, including a series-regular role as Tony in the popular Kenyan drama Jane and Abel. He has appeared in numerous Kenyan film and television productions, including Changes, Noose of Gold, Higher Learning, Lies That Bind, Rush, Fundi-Mentals (for which he won the 2015 Kalasha Award for Best Supporting Actor as Moses), Watu Wote: All of Us (Oscar-nominated short film, as Issa Osman), Rafiki (as Waireri), Lusala, Morning After (Netflix), Janjaruka, and Country Queen. International credits include the Danish series Liberty (as Marcus), Monarch: Legacy of Monsters (as Dr. Udekwu), So Help Me Todd, Smoke, and Invasion (Apple TV+, as Sgt. Amoako). Alongside acting he built a successful career in presenting. He reached the final stages of KTN’s The Presenter and finished as 2nd Runner-Up on TLC’s pan-African talent search Next Great Presenter. He hosted the entertainment magazine show Arena 254 on K24 and later worked as a breakfast show host on NRG Radio and Homeboyz Radio. He is also an active YouTuber and vlogger (series such as Charlie’s Day Out) and has worked as a film editor and digital content manager.

PERSONAL LIFE

Karumi married Melissa Nyagah in 2021. The couple later relocated to Canada (British Columbia), where he has continued his acting career while based there. He maintains a presence as a content creator through his YouTube channel and vlogs.

Charlie Karumi is recognised as a versatile Kenyan performer who successfully transitioned from local stage and screen work to international television while maintaining a strong presence in radio and digital content. His Kalasha Award win, participation in an Oscar-nominated short, and subsequent international roles mark him as one of the more widely travelled and adaptable talents of his generation in East African entertainment. He continues to act, present, and create content across platforms.