Paul Ogola’s reasons for leaving the Kenyan acting industry for the US military

Actor Paul Ogola of Kenya claims that his dissatisfaction with the Kenyan film business prompted him to look for comfort elsewhere, which ultimately led him to enlist in the US military.

Currently serving as a US Navy sailor, the award-winning actor has been nominated twice for the International Kalasha Film and TV Awards.

Ogola received the coveted Military Excellence Award (MEA) and graduated first in his class of more than 1,500 recruits from the US Navy’s Recruit Training Command last year.

Ogola engaged himself in the Kenyan acting scene prior to switching vocations, making appearances in a number of well-known Kenyan motion pictures.

His debut in Nairobi Half-Life, the first Kenyan film to be nominated for an Academy Award, in 2012 marked his debut on the Kenyan cinema scene.

He then starred in a number of noteworthy films, such as Kati Kati and Netflix’s ground-breaking series Sense8.

Crime and Justice, which starred the enduringly talented Sarah Hassan, was his final film before enlisting in the US Navy and leaving the Kenyan acting scene in 2021.

Ogola insists that acting is still his first love and that he probably would not have changed careers if conditions in the Kenyan film industry had been better.

According to Ogola, “I always wanted a chance to showcase my skills in the best possible way.” And he looked for that chance abroad when Kenya was unable to offer it.

When Netflix terminated Sense8 at the conclusion of its second season, Ogola’s pivotal moment occurred. He portrayed Jela in the show, which he describes as the high point of his acting career.

“Jela in Sense8 is the role I hold closest to my heart, but all of my roles up to that point have been fantastic,” Ogola told Senema Focus.

Sense8’s producers invited Ogola and the crew to the United States for the post-production process of ADR (Automated Dialogue Replacement), which entails re-recording dialogue in a studio, following Season 2. Also referred to as mastering and post-syncing.

When Ogola returned to Kenya in 2018, he planned to apply the information he had received from the eye-opening experience to make things work.I was able to observe how the global market operates and how it may exploit someone with my level of expertise. I attempted to get employment in Kenya after obtaining the necessary training and abilities, but I was unsuccessful. Paul continues.

The actor claims that despite his talent and efforts, he became weary of always attempting to establish himself in the Kenyan acting scene.Because I was put in a situation where I had to show myself more than was required, I lost the motivation behind what I love to accomplish.

Because of how they are handled in the profession, I have witnessed brilliant minds deteriorate or even perish,” he continues.

He started making plans to relocate to the US at this time in order to try his luck abroad.

He submitted an application for a Special Category Permanent Visa, which is given to those who have exceptional distinction. Shortly before the COVID-19 epidemic struck in 2020, his application—which included his acting career—was accepted without the requirement for references or other proof.

Ogola starred in his final Kenyan film, Crime and Justice, during this time of waiting for the pandemic to end before moving to the US to start training for the US Navy.

Ogola claims that he is content and at peace right now, and even if he is pursuing a different career route, acting is still his first passion, which he would pursue again if the right chance presented itself.

“Like many of my peers and those who came before me, I couldn’t allow my experiences in Kenya to shatter me.”