In 2026, Azziad Nasenya is not chasing the internet’s attention, she is directing her own story.
Born in Mumias and raised between Kakamega County and Nairobi, the actor and media personality built her name on TikTok in 2020 when a video of her dancing to Femi One and Mejja’s Utawezana went viral, earning her the title of East Africa’s TikTok Queen.
Six years on, she sits down to talk about her latest role as Natasha in Maisha Magic Plus’s Lazizi, the discipline behind her craft, and the boundaries she has built to protect what fame cannot replace.
What Lazizi Is and Why It Matters
Lazizi is not a studio production. The series is set in western Kenya’s sugar belt, a region with nearly seventeen sugar factories and thousands of lives intertwined with them and filmed on location in Muhoroni and Kisumu, grounding the narrative in the lived realities of Luo Nyanza.
Director and producer Reuben Odanga, who built his reputation on Selina, conceived the show from a specific sense of place. “I was heavily inspired by the flora and fauna of our country, especially the breathtaking landscapes of Muhoroni, framed perfectly by the rolling Nandi Hills,” Odanga said. “I wanted to give our fans, especially those from that region, something that feels like home, a show that reflects their world, their language, and their heartbeat.”
The show premiered on Monday, 6 October 2025 at 20:00 EAT on Maisha Magic Plus and airs Monday to Friday. It follows Mark Mbotela, played by Mwaniki Mageria, a sugarcane mogul whose political ambitions are driven not by glory but by self-preservation. As he vies for the governor’s seat, his past resurfaces, threatening to unravel his carefully curated image. A dangerous love affair, family rivalries, and long-held secrets push Mark to the edge.
Maisha Magic Plus Channel Head Margaret Mathore positioned the show as a continuation of the platform’s investment in Kenyan storytelling. “Just like Selina, we believe it will captivate viewers and affirm the strength of homegrown productions,” she said.
For Lazizi, close to 1,000 hopefuls auditioned for roles a figure that underlines the production’s pull within Kenya’s creative industry.
Returning to a Familiar Set
Joining Lazizi meant walking back into a room full of familiar faces, and Azziad welcomed every one of them.
“It has been such a beautiful experience working with familiar faces again,” she says. “I had previously worked with Reuben on Selina, and stepping back on set with him instantly brought back that sense of comfort and chemistry.”
She also reunited with Helen Keli, whom she first met during Selina, and Mwaniki Mageria, her co-host on the Concert Nyumbani musical show. “Seeing all of them again reminded me just how small and interconnected our industry is, and how special it is to grow alongside people who genuinely support your journey.”
Then there is Pascal. “That’s my brother for life. I call him Toko. He’s an incredible human, and working with him again was nothing short of amazing.”
Odanga’s productions consistently blend seasoned actors with fresh faces, which he says adds something “raw, fresh, and magical to every production.” Azziad steps into that dynamic as Natasha, a character positioned at the intersection of ambition, control, and quiet vulnerability.
Who Is Natasha?
Natasha is a polished and strategic woman in her late 20s who believes status is power and love is something to be secured, not chased. Carefully curated and emotionally controlled, she moves through the world with intention, masking a deep fear of being replaced or losing relevance.
Azziad says the role demands more than surface performance.
“Natasha is bold, layered, and extremely intentional. She’s a woman who knows exactly what she wants and isn’t afraid to go after it. But beneath all that confidence is vulnerability, a fear of losing her place and being forgotten. Playing her has been both exciting and challenging, because she’s always walking a fine line between control and chaos.”
How She Built the Character
Azziad does not walk onto a set unprepared. Before filming began, she studied Natasha’s character biography, watched multiple clips to understand the role’s world and energy, and worked through her script the night before each shoot. “I have almost a photographic memory, but I still prefer being fully prepared rather than ambushed.”
On Pressure, Therapy, and the Block Button
The creative industry applies pressure from every direction. Azziad has found her own framework for handling it.
“Pressure is what creates diamonds,” she says. “It’s not about avoiding pressure, but learning how to manage it, channel it, and grow through it.”
Protecting her mental and emotional space sits at the centre of that framework. Therapy helps. Prayer grounds her. And the block button, she says without apology, serves a clear purpose. “If you stress me, I’ll block you.” She filters comments, switches off her phone, and disconnects entirely when she needs to reset — sometimes for three days at a stretch.
A Complicated Relationship with Social Media
Azziad joined TikTok in August 2019, earned her verification in February 2020, and has since expanded steadily — hosting a breakfast show at Sound City Kenya, running The Shoe Game with Azziad on YouTube, and in 2024 taking on the role of Miss Kemi, a mathematics teacher, in the Kenya-Uganda TV show Prefects. The platform built her career. The relationship has not stayed simple.
“Let’s say complicated. A love-hate affair,” she says. “I am glad that social media has helped me build my brand, but I have learned to draw boundaries to protect my mental health.”
How She Defines Success
Azziad measures progress on her own terms.
“Someone might think I’ve made it. Someone else might think I’ve barely started,” she says. “But if I’m better today than I was yesterday — that’s success. Growth is progressive, and I celebrate every step forward.”
2026 Bucket List
Three items sit on Azziad’s list for the year: learn to ride a horse, pick up a new language, and travel to Bangkok.
