Five Writers Awarded Over Ksh 7 Million Under the Kenya Film Commission–GIZ Screenwriters Residency

Five Kenyan screenwriters have been awarded a total of Ksh. 7.5 million in the just-concluded Screenwriters Residency program by the Kenya Film Commission (KFC), in collaboration with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).

The writers, Edwin Kairu (Mental), Lydia Matata (Offside), Hannington Juma (The Most Outlandish Heist), Gift Kyansimire (My Girlfriend Wanjiru Is a Vampire), and Wacuka Mungai (Timeline Bloodline), each received development grants of up to KES 1.5 million for the listed series projects to support further script development and potential production.

The residency was implemented under KFC’s fourth cycle of the Film Empowerment Programme, aimed at strengthening the development of original Kenyan television content. It also forms part of the Kenyan–German collaboration project, Strengthening the Film Industry in Kenya.

First announced in October, the residency received 158 applications, from which ten writers were selected to participate in an intensive four-week programme at Tafaria Castle and Center for the Arts, facilitated by Mona Ombogo, known for her work on shows such as Kona, Volume, and Kash Money.

“Strong industries are built on strong stories, and stories begin with writers,” said KFC Board Chair Sudi Wandabusi. “Kenyan writers are eager, imaginative, and deeply committed to telling stories that reflect our society, our struggles, and our aspirations.”

In addition, two projects, Wash Wash (series, D&R Studios) and Heirs of No Regret (film, Baruu Collective), were awarded co-production funding of up to Ksh 1.7 million each under the International Co-productions initiative. This marks the first time KFC has implemented co-production funding under the Film Empowerment Programme.

These two were selected from a shortlist of five projects, and target established Kenyan producers with existing international co-production arrangements. The initiative provides partial production funding to internationally co-produced projects that are ready to advance to the next stage of development.

“This is a deliberate policy decision to invest in ready-to-shoot international co-productions with established global partnerships,” said Wandabusi. “It’s a strategic shift. For Kenya to compete globally, we must support projects that are not only creatively compelling, but also market-ready, professionally structured, and aligned with international production standards.”

Founded by Eugene Mbugua, D&R Studios is known for producing docuseries and reality television, including The Real Housewives of Nairobi, Sol Family, and Story Yangu. Baruu Collective, meanwhile, is known for documentary shorts such as If Objects Could Speak and Unyagoni.

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