Like many industries after the COVID-19 pandemic, the Kenyan film and TV industry has struggled to get back on its feet. And while 2022 was a slow year, 2023 proved even slower, with fewer productions and less activity. It almost felt as though the industry had taken a step backward in the progress it had made the previous year. However, 2024 marked a shift—it was buzzier and busier than ever.
For the whole country, 2024 was a year of resistance that started and ended with protests from #EndFemicide march to #RejectFinanceBill to #EndAbductionsKE. As the nation was jolted into action, so was the film, television and theatre industry which demonstrated renewed vigour, achieving significant milestones, commendable firsts and notable returns. Despite the challenges, these genuine moments of triumph highlighted an industry at a critical inflection point.
The Kenyan film industry has long struggled with a volume problem, with new releases, if any, often scattered across the year. This inconsistency has made it harder to capture and maintain the momentum of cinema goers hungry for local content. That’s why we must not take it for granted that over 20 Kenyan feature films were released in 2024, with December being particularly busier than ever before. However, now more than ever, we must quantify what this means for the industry with real numbers and real data. How many tickets were sold? How much did they make in cinemas? Which Kenyan film was the highest grossing, and what made its model successful? These questions demand answers because a growing industry thrives on measurable success. This is how we attract meaningful investment. This is how we gauge audience demand for our stories. This is how we create sustainable growth models. As we’ve said time and again, this data is more critical than we realise.
With that in mind, here are the key moments that defined Kenya’s film, television, and theatre industries in 2024:
Showmax Relaunches
In February, at a time when Amazon Prime Video announced its exit from the continent, African streamer Showmax reaffirmed its commitment with a relaunch in partnership with Comcast’s NBCUniversal and Sky.
Unveiling a new look, app and product suite, Showmax promised more than 1 300 hours of new original titles across Africa in 2024, offering viewers an average of over 3.5 hours of fresh local content every day. It Kenya alone, it launched a record 12 originals including Kenya’s first sci-fi series Subterranea.
Kalasha Awards Returns Bigger Than Ever
After a one-year hiatus, the Kalasha International Film and TV Awards made a grand return, combining the awards ceremony with the Kalasha market and introducing a festival for the first time ever. With better organisation and strategic management, this festival could unlock immense potential for the region, becoming a cornerstone event for the Kenyan and East African film industries. Onwards, Kenya Film Commission!
Citizen TV pulls ‘Shamba la Wanyama’ off the air
In a major setback for the industry, Citizen TV pulled the controversial TV series Shamba la Wanyama off air and cancelled it after just one episode. Directed by Stuart Nash and written by Serah Mwihaki, the series follows a rogue pastor and how he runs his church. The series, inspired by George Orwell’s Animal Farm, was deemed too radical and controversial by the church hence the abrupt ‘ban’. Perhaps Nash should consider shopping the series elsewhere if Citizen TV lacks the courage to air such bold and timely content, unless the station holds exclusive rights to it. Art should never be silenced, especially when addressing issues this relevant to the times.
Read More: Stories We Can’t Tell: The Cost of Censorship in Kenya’s Film Industry
Too Early for Birds Returns
When we needed it the most, Too Early for Birds, the theatre group founded by Brian Ngartia and Abu Sense made a triumphant comeback with their notable play Tom Mboya. Fueled by nothing but passion, history, defiance and the spirit of a true Kenyan statesman, Tom Mboya was a poignant reminder of Kenya’s unrelenting fight for freedom. It was illuminating and devastating, taking us through a tragic history that we would rather forget but should rather remember for our own sake and for our own future. In our review, Tonny Ogwa wrote: “The genius of Tom Mboya is not just in its extensive research, pulsating writing, riveting performances, or creatively minimalist stage design. Its brilliance lies in crafting an immersive experience that transcends the physical and auditory manifestations.”
Showmax Launches ‘Subterranea’, Kenya’s First Sci-fi Series
In a year of many firsts, Showmax launched Kenya its first ever sci-fi series, Subterranea, in September. Directed by Likarion Wainaina, Subterranea follows eight participants of a psychological experiment gone wrong, with a cast that includes Foi Wambui, Makena Kahuha, Peter Kawa, Chintu Chadusama, Melissa Kiplagat and more.
In our review, Kelvin Kariuki described Subterranea as a “series that breaks new ground” as Kenya’s bold foray into science fiction and speculative storytelling despite its flaws. He wrote: “Having brought us the first tints of a Kenyan superhero film with Supa Modo and now locking fragments of our cultural personas into science fiction, my confidence is riding on Wainaina steering this into a fulfilling and worthwhile crest in a sea of other global science fiction, and fantasy, while also inspiring more Kenyan filmmakers to be bold and explore more speculative genres rarely seen on our local screens.”
Read Our Review: Rough Around the Edges, Kenya’s First Sci-Fi Series Breaks New Ground
NBO Film Festival Makes a Strong Comeback
After a three-year hiatus, the NBO Film Festival returned with a strong lineup that included The Battle for Laikipia and Our Land, Our Freedom and more acclaimed films from across the continent like Nigeria’s Mami Wata, Sudan’s Goodbye Julia, Burkina Faso’s Sira, Zambia’s On Becoming a Guinea Fowl and Senegal’s Banel & Adama. Rich in diversity, these films spoke on themes of land, colonialism, legacy, faith and religion, feminism, tradition and love, with the festival director and co-founder Sheba Hirst noting that safeguarding spaces for creativity and critical inquiry has never been more important. “In a world where these spaces are increasingly under threat, it’s more important than ever to protect and celebrate the power of art to question, challenge, and inspire,” she said.
Kenya Lands Its Highest Nominations Yet at Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA)
Kenya pulled some serious weight at the 2024 Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA), earning 15 nominations in total, the highest yet for the country at the awards. Leading the nominations was the Kenyan-Canadian drama Kipkemboi with six nods, winning for Elsie Chidera Abang Best Actress in a Supporting Role. Close behind was Kenya’s official Oscars 2025 entry, Nawi, which secured five nominations, including Best Young/Promising Actor for lead and newcomer Michelle Lemuya Ikeny—a category she won.
Other Kenyan nominees included the rom-com drama Boda Love, which took home Best Achievement in Soundtrack, and the animated short Counter Punch, which won Best Animation.
‘MTV Shuga’ Returns to Kenya
MTV Shuga is known for giving Lupita Nyong’o one of her most prominent roles before her Hollywood break. After two seasons in Kenya, the series moved to Nigeria and South Africa, cultivating a new fanbase with Shuga Naija for S3, S4 and S6 and Shuga Down South with S5 and S7. The coming-of-age drama now returns to Kenya where it all started in 2009.
Although the date is not yet set, the new Kenyan edition, titled MTV Shuga Mashariki, will likely premiere in 2025 featuring a crop of young Kenyan actors.
Philit Production Makes History with 6000 Premiere Attendance
In a groundbreaking achievement, Philit Productions made history with the premiere of Makosa ni Yangu, attracting an unprecedented 6,000 attendees – a first for Kenya and perhaps even Africa. According to Philit co-founder Philip Karanja, all their years of hard work in audience building has been leading them to this moment and the 6,000 was a very deliberate number that I’m certain they will aim to surpass in 2025.
After its premiere, Makosa ni Yangu moved to Philit’s own VOD platform, Philit TV, where fans can now purchase a viewing link for Ksh 250. Another strategic move by the Karanja and his team to build a strong homegrown streaming service. However, I had hoped that the film would have screened in cinemas longer and carried with it that energy of its premiere night. I wish any of the big cinemas collaborated with Kenyan filmmakers to curate a collection of Kenyan films throughout December. With the volume of Kenyan releases this festive season – 2 Asunder, Sketchy Africans, On Air, It’s A Free Country, Makosa ni Yangu and The Christmas Run – there was definitely enough titles for such an initiative. Now, imagine the impact if marketed right. This is how you build a cinema culture.
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