Kevin Maina speaks on playing Ritchie on Single Kiasi S4 

He’s a poet, a storyteller, and now your latest small-screen obsession. Kevin Maina, better known to fans as Maina Mind, has mastered the art of stirring emotions through spoken word. But these days, it’s not just his words setting hearts racing – it’s his on-screen charm too. 

When he’s not dropping thought-provoking poetry or running digital campaigns that get people talking, Kevin is lighting up our screens in Showmax’s sizzling drama, Single Kiasi. He plays Ritchie, Minnie’s on-screen cousin, a role that was supposed to be a short stint until his undeniable chemistry and flair made producers rethink everything. 

And it paid off. 

This season, Ritchie is back and bolder than ever, turning up the heat with his cougar-loving antics that fans can’t get enough of. But this time, things take a twist. He has found love with Delilah (played by Helen Keli), who’s ready to take their steamy romance to the next level… by starting a family. 

In an exclusive, Kevin unpacks the new season:  

Over the years, you have built a strong reputation as a poet (Maina Mind): how has your creative work online influenced your approach to acting? 

When I started Maina Mind, I honestly just wanted to show off my performative side. I’ve always loved poetry – it’s my safe space, my mirror, my madness. But I also wanted to make it cinematic. From the start, I was obsessed with the lighting, the angles, the storytelling.  

People often tell me Maina Mind feels like a movie – and that’s exactly what I was going for. It wasn’t just about the poetry; it was about performance. I wanted to show that I could embody emotion, that I could make people feel without even saying much. 

And funny enough, that little creative experiment changed my career. One day, I got a DM from the producers of Single Kiasi saying, “You’re really good on camera – can we bring that same charm to the show?” The rest is history. That’s literally how I landed the role of Richie.  

Now, my journey has come full circle with my debut poetry album Midnight Poetry – a cocktail of emotions: love, loss, grief, and yes, a bit of spice. It’s raw, it’s honest, and it’s streaming everywhere. 

Ritchie was originally written as a minor role, but your portrayal made him stand out. Can you share how that evolution happened? 

When I first joined Single Kiasi, he was just a tiny role – blink and you’d miss him. But something happened on that first day on set that changed everything. 

Show producers Philippe Bresson and Grace Kahaki pulled me aside and said, “Give us your version of Ritchie. How do you think he moves, talks, behaves?” That freedom? It was everything. It allowed me to inject my own flavour – the charm, the humour, and yes, the beautiful chaos that Ritchie brings everywhere he goes.

I leaned into what I do best – being that guy who makes you laugh, sometimes even when you shouldn’t. And it worked. The audience connected with him, the team loved it, and suddenly Ritchie wasn’t just some guy in the background – he had a life, a personality, a vibe.  

You have played roles in both international and local productions. How has your experience with Single Kiasi reshaped your career trajectory and aspirations? 

There is something bold about this show, something that pushes boundaries in the best possible way. From the very first season, we took risks that honestly scared us. But that’s what made it exciting. We weren’t just telling stories; we were moving the grain. 

Even when we are on set or doing table reads, there is such a bold energy around Single Kiasi, like if we can think it, we can do it. And I think that to me, even in my life as a brand, as a creative, it's all about doing the bold, like literally exploring boldly. So, I think that has, I would say that's the spirit on set, and I love it. 

Fan reactions to Ritchie range from humorous memes to critical commentary. How does engaging with that feedback impact your performance? 

I have seen it all – the hilarious memes, the wild DMs, the deep think pieces – and honestly, I love it. For me, community engagement is everything. So, to everyone watching Single Kiasi, please keep the feedback coming. Critique us, debate us, laugh with us – it all matters. 

Any strong reaction, whether praise or criticism, means we’re striking a chord. It means we are reflecting on something real that’s happening in society. And that’s the point, right? To hold up a mirror and say, this is us. 

Of course, some comments sting – that’s part of it. But then you get those messages that remind you why you do this. People saying, “Bro, I’m literally living Ritchie’s life right now,” or “This show helped me see my situation differently.” That’s when it hits you – this isn’t just entertainment. 

At the end of the day, that’s why we act, why we tell stories – to connect, to provoke, to remind people they are not alone.  

What behind-the-scenes moment from past seasons still cracks you up? 

I think Season 3 …. man, we had crazy moments. I think the scene where Mariah (Minne Kariuki) in Season 3 finds me watching animal porn. We shot that scene several times and every time it left everyone on set cracking their ribs.  

Who is most like their character in real life? 

Minne is mostly like Mariah; she channels it crazily. 

Describe your Season 4 journey using emojis.  

The injured emoji, because of being beaten up. There’s a lot of fighting this season, and I do all my stunts.  

If your character could have a crossover with any other Kenyan show, which would it be? 

The Chocolate Empire.  

Looking ahead, as you evolve as a poet and actor, how do you see the two paths merging in future projects? 

For me, poetry and acting have never been separate – they’re just two sides of the same coin. As Maina Mind, I’ve started doing live shows, and releasing my album Midnight Poetry was a huge step in that direction. Funny enough, some of the pieces on the album were inspired by my character Ritchie – like Naitwa Kevo, which was born right out of that experience. 

I see the two worlds merging even more in the future. I want to go deeper into performance, into that space where spoken word meets storytelling, where emotion isn’t just spoken, it’s performed. Acting, to me, is already poetry. You take words and breathe life into them; you feel, you empathise, you become. 

Catch Kevin Maina in Single Kiasi Season 4 now streaming on Showmax.