Kalasha Awards 2026 Winners: ‘Sukari’ Tops Film as ‘Kash Money’ Dominates TV

The biggest night in Kenya’s film and TV industry, the Kalasha Film and TV Awards, took place on Saturday 2 May at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre.

Hosted by Amina Abdi Rabar and Lotan Salapei, the 2026 edition brought together industry players and key stakeholders, including Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports Salim Mvurya, and Principal Secretary in the State Department for Youth Affairs and Creative Economy Fikirini Jacobs.

Also in attendance was President William Ruto as Chief Guest, a presence that has elicited strong reactions from Kenyans on X, particularly given the current administration’s track record on censorship in the arts.

Just recently, Daily Nation reported that rules for the 2026 Kenya National Drama and Film Festival had been revised to ban political messaging, a claim denied by festival chairman Christopher Joseph Odhiambo and Head of Presidential Special Projects and Creative Economy Coordination Dennis Itumbi.

In his speech at the Kalasha Awards, the President outlined structural changes within the State Department for the Creative Economy that would “give the sector the weight, framework and permanence it deserves”, including the establishment of a Creative Economy office at State House as a “commitment to the creative sector.”

He also announced plans to direct 30% of government advertising spend to creative platforms, while urging Parliament to “fast-track the Creative Economy Bill and strengthen copyright laws.”

At the end of his speech, the President promised to increase the prize money for Kalasha winners from KSh 200,000 to KSh 500,000, and made a KSh 10 million pledge to support individuals pursuing film and the arts, tied to the Affordable Housing and Social Health Authority (SHA) programmes, two flagship initiatives of his administration.

Away from politics and promises, the awards ultimately belonged to a trio of dominant titles.

In the film category, Kenya’s 2025 Oscars entry Nawi led with five awards, including Best Feature and Best Lead Actress for Michelle Lemuya Ikeny, tying with Omar Hamza’s short film Sukari, which also secured Best Director and Best Original Screenplay.

In the film categories, Omar Hamza’s short film Sukari led with six awards, including Best Director and Best Original Screenplay, followed by Kenya’s 2025 Oscars entry Nawi with five wins, including Best Feature and Best Lead Actress for Michelle Lemuya Ikeny.

In television, Kash Money also secured five wins, sweeping the major categories including Best TV Drama and Best Director.

See a full list of Kalasha Awards 2026 winners below.

BEST FEATURE FILM

• Nawi — Brizan Were, Lydia Wrensch and Caroline Heim

BEST LEAD ACTRESS IN A FILM

• Michelle Lemuya (Nawi)

BEST LEAD ACTOR IN A FILM

• Juma Mdoe (Sukari)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A FILM

• Ivy Collette (Owadwa)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A FILM

• Jave Samson (Sukari)

BEST DIRECTOR

• Omar Hamza (Sukari)

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

• Sukari — June Wairegi & Omar Hamza

JURY AWARD

• Memory of Princess Mumbi — Damien Hauser

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHER

• The Dog — Andrew Mungai and Baker Karim

BEST SOUND DESIGNER

• Sarah — Eric Musyoka

BEST FILM SCORE

Sukari — Frank Matovu

BEST EDITOR

• The People Shall — Mark Maina

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

• Memory of Princess Mumbi — Damien Hauser

BEST GAFFER

• The Dog — Walter Odhiambo

BEST COSTUME DESIGNER

• Nawi – Dear Future Me — Viva Njeri

BEST MAKEUP ARTIST

• 2 Asunder — John Michuki

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGNER

• Nawi – Dear Future Me — Erikson Kang’ethe

BEST DOCUMENTARY

• The People Shall — Mark Maina

BEST ANIMATION

• Lore — Mary Wanjiku

BEST KENYAN INDIGENOUS FILM

• Sarah — Sarah Tenoi, Nick Reding, Amos Leuka

BEST SHORT FILM

• Sukari — June Wairegi

BEST STUDENT FILM

• Dinner for Three

BEST DOCUMENTARY BY A STUDENT

• The Inkidongi

PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD – FEATURE FILM

• Nawi

BEST INTERNATIONAL FILM

• JIMBI

BEST CHILDREN PRODUCTION

• Ndemwa

BEST TV DRAMA

• Kash Money — Grace Kahaki

BEST LEAD ACTRESS IN A TV DRAMA

• June Njenga (Big Girl Small World)

BEST LEAD ACTOR IN A TV DRAMA

• John Sibi Okumu (Kash Money)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A TV DRAMA

• Amara Tari (Kash Money)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A TV DRAMA

• Lenana Kariba (Kash Money)

BEST TV DIRECTOR

• Kash Money — Grace Kahaki and Philippe Bresson

BEST TV SCRIPTWRITER

• Big Girl Small World — Angela Ruhinda

PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD – TV DRAMA

• MTV Shuga Mashariki

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

• John Karanja

DIGITAL CONTENT CREATOR OF THE YEAR

• Edwin Wainaina

POSITIVE IMPACT CONTENT CREATOR OF THE YEAR

• Shiksha Arora

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