He was the golden boy of Selina, the face that launched a thousand memes and the undisputed heavyweight of Kenyan drama. Then he stepped away.

Pascal Tokodi is back on the screen as Marcus in Maisha Magic Plus’s Lazizi, reuniting with Selina producer Reuben Odanga and co-star Azziad Nasenya in a crime drama that follows a powerful sugar factory mogul whose bid for the Governor’s seat is driven not by ambition but by survival.

The return, he says, was not planned. “This role came out of nowhere. But it’s here now. I can’t wait to see what this year has to offer,” he says.

The time away from television was anything but quiet. Tokodi built businesses, launched his Jabba Juice brand Noma, started a production house and ventured into fashion, all while raising his daughter. “After being part of Kenya’s biggest TV shows, I asked myself, what next? I wanted ownership. I wanted legacy. I wanted independence,” he says. The juice brand was born from a practical need. “I remember my long shooting days on Selina and at the end of the day I needed to restore my energy levels. Coffee helped, but I wanted something healthier.”

Entrepreneurship, he admits, has been humbling. “I’ve lost money. I’ve gone over budget. I’ve made mistakes. But I’ve learned more than I ever imagined.”

On Lazizi, he plays Marcus a young, quietly strong and emotionally grounded man. Much of that groundedness, he says, comes directly from fatherhood. “My daughter softened me. She’s made me more empathetic, more patient and more aware. That emotional growth flows directly into how I play Marcus.” The two share a birthday in April, a detail he mentions with visible pride.

His Kalasha awards, once almost thrown away, now hang on a wall specifically for her to see. “I want her to know that dedication creates impact,” he says.

To the next generation of actors, his advice is straightforward. “No role is too small. No job is useless. Every opportunity opens another door. Love the craft. Respect the grind. Use your talent, it’s a crime not to.”

Lazizi airs every Monday to Friday at 8:00 PM on Maisha Magic Plus, DStv Channel 163 and GOtv Channel 3.