Every time Kepha appears on Ayana, you can almost tell something is about to go wrong. His cunning nature, hunger for revenge and endless schemes have turned him into one of Citizen TV’s most talked about characters.
Love him or hate him, one thing is he knows how to keep viewers glued to their screens every weekday on Citizen.
But away from the cameras, the man behind Kepha is nothing like the character many fans have come to fear and dislike.
His real name is Neville Misati, a talented Kenyan actor, professional chef and digital content creator who has spent over 15 years building his career.
Before landing his breakthrough role on Ayana, Neville appeared in productions such as “Rafiki, Crime and Justice, Shuga, Jane & Abel, New Beginnings and How to Find a Husband.”
He also lent his voice to Zuberi in the Swahili version of the internationally released video game “Tales of Kenzera: Zau.”
Interestingly, acting is only one side of his life. When he is not on set, Neville runs Jikoni Expedition where he works as a private chef. He often tells fans, “If I’m not on set, I’m in the kitchen.”
Unlike Kepha the character who is driven by revenge, Neville says he would rather let karma deal with people than seek revenge himself.
Fans have also been curious about his personal life, but that is one area he has chosen to keep away from the spotlight.
Neville has never publicly revealed his exact age, although his career journey suggests he is likely in his mid to late 30s.
He has also never confirmed whether he is married or in a relationship, keeping his romantic life completely private.
Also never publicly spoken about his tribe, many Kenyans believe he comes from the Abagusii community because “Misati” is a well known Kisii surname.
Neville himself prefers to be known simply as a Kenyan creative and has never made his ethnic background part of his public identity.
His journey is a big reminder that success doesn’t come easily. After spending years attending auditions and facing rejection, he finally earned a place in Kenya’s primetime television scene through consistency and patience.