Renowned Kenyan director and scriptwriter Abel Mutua, popularly known as Mkurugenzi, recently appeared on The King’ori Show, where he shared the remarkable story of his journey to becoming one of Kenya’s most celebrated storytellers.
During the candid conversation with host Dr. King’ori, Abel recounted a pivotal moment in his career that changed everything.
The Turning Point
Abel reminisced about a time when he and his colleague, Phil, were struggling to get their big break.
“Phil had gone to M-Net—I’m not sure why—because we’d already submitted our pilot scripts there and never heard back,” Abel explained.
What made Phil’s visit stand out was his impeccable presentation. Despite being financially strained, he arrived dressed sharply and wearing an expensive Tom Ford cologne.
“He had on this amazing fragrance, yet at the time, he didn’t even have a shilling in his pocket. He was completely broke,” Abel recalled with a laugh.
The Fateful Meeting
During his visit to M-Net, Phil happened to meet one of the commissioning editors. After a brief discussion, the editor was particularly intrigued by his cologne.
“As they left the meeting, the lady asked him, ‘What perfume are you wearing?’ When Phil replied ‘Tom Ford,’ her entire demeanour changed,” Abel shared.
Impressed, the editor then asked if Phil had any projects to present. To her surprise, he revealed that they had already submitted a pilot—one that had been overlooked.
“Phil rushed back, grabbed our pilot, and brought it to her. She watched it, then immediately called him: ‘Come for a meeting on Monday without fail. There’s something here.’”
The Life-Changing Opportunity
Phil hurried to relay the news to Abel, who promptly cancelled all his scheduled interviews for that day.
“I made calls apologising that I couldn’t attend the interviews. Come Monday morning, we were at M-Net, fully prepared,” Abel said.
The meeting was a success. Not only did they secure the deal, but they were also offered a budget in the tens of millions.
“We agreed on payments, signed the deal, and walked out in disbelief. We sat in the car park for a while, just processing it all,” he admitted.
The Birth of a Hit Show
That opportunity led to the creation of Sue na Jonnie, a beloved Kenyan TV show that cemented Abel and Phil’s place in the industry.
Reflecting on the journey, Abel emphasised the importance of persistence and presentation. “Sometimes, it’s the little things—like wearing the right cologne—that open the biggest doors.”
BY Kelvin njenga
