After announcing in September that MTV Shuga Mashariki had been greenlit for season 2, set to premiere in early 2026, the MTV Staying Alive Foundation (MTV SAF) has now unveiled a new production partnership and the cast joining the upcoming season of the young-adult drama.
The new cast includes Vanessa Okeyo (Tuki), Marima Wanjiru (Maisha Makutano), Natalia Kyalo (A Better Life), Jenny Muigai, Amalie Chopetta (The Chocolate Empire), Beatrice Kamuyu (Faithless), Eunice Kamau, and Tanzania’s Talie Gray (The Christmas Run). They join returning cast members Serah Wanjiru (Volume), Basil Mungai (Click Click Bang), Matthew Ngugi (Mo-Faya), Wilson Muchemi, Fatuma Gichuru, Julie Brenda Nyambura (Kina), Fridah Mumbe (Jiji), Renee Gichuki, and Mwende King’ori (Salem), with Brian Kabugi (Volume) elevated to a major role this season.
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Set against the vibrant backdrop of campus life at the fictional Enkare University, MTV Shuga Mashariki season 2 continues to follow the lives of its young cast as they navigate sexual health, relationships, and family issues.
“From script to screen, every storyline is grounded in local, youth-centred research and crafted to challenge restrictive norms and harmful social expectations that shape young people’s lives. Drawing on extensive evidence that authentic, relatable storytelling can shift attitudes at scale, this season promises to both entertain and inspire,” said MTV SAF in a statement.
For its second season, MTV SAF is doubling down on inclusivity as it builds pathways for women and youth in Africa’s creative industries. The new production partner is She Moves Africa Films, a women-led company founded by Dina Mwende, known for projects such as Reuben Odanga’s feature Nafsi and the Showmax crime drama Faithless. Mwende, who served as associate producer on season 1, has been upped to series producer.
“My heart found a home in stories that do more than entertain, stories that move people and challenge us to reimagine what future is possible for young people,” says Mwende.
Season 2 also welcomes new female director Janet Chumbe (4Play, Faithless), who joins returning directors Mkaiwawi Mwakaba (Makosa ni Yangu, 4Play), June Ndinya (Prefects, Flash Squad) and Likarion Wainaina (Supa Modo, Subterranea).
According to MTV SAF, these two new developments marks a defining leap for women in film and television across East Africa, underscoring the rising influence of female creators shaping narratives that drive social change. The foundation says it is creating spaces where women can thrive in storytelling, production, and media innovation while amplifying their voices and perspectives.
Working with Nice Githinji as intimacy coordinator, MTV Shuga Mashariki is also one of the few productions in Kenya that have embraced intimacy coordination as a way of creating safe sets for actors and crew. “We see storytelling as both cultural work and care work,” says MTV SAF Country Manager Mitchelle Kimathi. “This season, we are embedding wellness and psychosocial support into the fabric of our production, championing intimacy coordination and setting new standards for safety and gender equity in East African filmmaking. We want to create an ecosystem where care is intentional, creativity is protected, and impact is felt just as much behind the camera as it is on screen.”
Together, MTV SAF and She Moves Africa have also rolled out the second edition of Shuga’s Talent Acceleration Programme (TAP 2.0), a hands-on initiative designed to train and empower the next generation of filmmakers in Kenya. This year’s cohort includes Ian Mwendwa (Directing), Trevor Sudi (Camera), Beatrice Karu (Sound), Ann Naomi (Make-up), Maissy Wairimu (Wardrobe), Alicia Njoki, Sam Mahinda and Ruth Wambui (Art), Leila Fiona and Marion Kipawa (Production), Clinton Ayieka (Lighting), and Ryan Glib (Grips).
For more Kenyan TV shows and films releasing in 2026, see our What to Watch in Kenya guide, updated weekly.
Update: MTV Shuga Mashariki S2 premieres on 10 February on Citizen TV and on YouTube via MTV Shuga’s official channel on 11 February.
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