Mūmbi Maina (born 14 January 1985) is a Kenyan actress and dancer. She has appeared in several films since 2009 and is known for her roles in the soap opera Mali (2011–2013) and as Zakia in the Netflix science fiction series Sense8.
Maina made her acting debut in the 2009 film Unseen, Unsung, Unforgotten, earning the Kalasha Award for the Best Supporting Actress.
Her film credits include the DStv Africa Magic original films 29, Terra Firma, Being Oti, Lovers Ransom, and Runaway Groom.
Career Maina made her acting debut in the 2009 film Unseen, Unsung, Unforgotten as Riziki. She appeared alongside Benta Ochieng and Nice Githinji in a story focused on HIV/AIDS. In 2011, she was cast in the Kenyan soap opera Mali. Later that year, she appeared in the film Shattered, alongside Rita Dominic and Robert Burale. In early 2015, she portrayed Jackie in the television series How to Find a Husband, alongside Lizz Njagah and Sarah Hassan.
In 2016, Maina portrayed Jane Mabagwa in the short film Lina and Zakia in seven episodes of the second season of Sense8. Her performance led director Lana Wachowski to cast her in The Matrix Resurrections as Eliister.
In 2021, Maina starred as Aisha in Nafsi, alongside Catherine Kamau. The film was produced by Reuben Odanga of Multan Production Limited. She portrayed Thabisa in La Femme Anjola, a film about a young Nigerian investment banker, which earned her a nomination for the Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards in 2022. The film also starred Rita Dominic as Anjola and Nonso Bassey as Dejare.
In 2025, she starred as Vera in the Showmax Original The Chocolate Empire.
Filmography Film and television Year TitleRole Notes2008Unseen, Unsung, UnforgottenRiziki2011–2015MaliNandiSoap opera, main cast2011ShatteredMumbi2014Jane & AbelCecelia Soap opera, main cast2015 How to Find a HusbandJackieLimited-run series, main cast2015Runaway GroomLeahTV film2016Kati KatiJojo2016LinaJane MabagwaShort film2017–2018 Sense8ZakiaRecurring role (season 2)2021 The Matrix ResurrectionsEllster2021 NafsiAisha2021La Femme AnjolaThabisaNigerian neo-noir crime thriller2022 SalemZara MufasaMain cast2022Crime and Justice Mrs. MumbiEpisode: "The Death Squad"2023Second FamilyKatherineTelenovela2025 The Chocolate EmpireVeraRecurring role
Awards and nominations +YearAwardCategoryShowResultRef2009Kalasha International Film and TV AwardsBest Supporting Actress FilmUnseen, Unsung, Unforgotten2012Kalasha International Film and TV AwardsBest Supporting Actress FilmShattered2017Kalasha International Film and TV AwardsBest Supporting Actress FilmLina2022Africa Magic Viewers' Choice AwardsBest Supporting ActressLa Femme Anjola
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