The Kenyan film, television, and theatre industry experienced a remarkable revival in 2024, marking a sharp contrast to the slow years that followed the COVID-19 pandemic. After years of minimal activity, 2024 emerged as a year of creativity, resilience, and firsts, signaling a promising direction for the industry. Amid national protests and social movements, the entertainment sector mirrored the country’s renewed energy, achieving notable milestones and demonstrating the power of storytelling to reflect and influence society. Over 20 Kenyan feature films were released throughout the year, providing audiences with a much-needed surge of local content and setting the stage for sustainable growth in production and viewership.
One of the defining moments of 2024 was Showmax’s relaunch in February, reaffirming its commitment to African audiences with over 1,300 hours of original content. The platform introduced Kenya’s first-ever sci-fi series, Subterranea, a bold step into speculative storytelling that showcased the industry’s growing versatility. Theatre also saw a revival with Too Early for Birds’ triumphant return featuring Tom Mboya, a play that captivated audiences with its historical depth and immersive storytelling. The Kalasha International Film and TV Awards returned with a festival format, providing a platform for creators to celebrate excellence and gain regional recognition, while the NBO Film Festival re-emerged after a three-year hiatus, featuring films that addressed themes from land and colonialism to feminism and faith.
The year also witnessed Kenyan films gaining international recognition, with a record 15 nominations at the Africa Movie Academy Awards. Standout productions such as Kipkemboi, Nawi, and Boda Love showcased the country’s storytelling capabilities, while Makosa ni Yangu set a historic attendance record of 6,000 at its premiere. Collectively, these milestones underscore a critical inflection point for Kenya’s creative industries, emphasizing the importance of consistent production, audience engagement, and strategic investment. 2024, in many ways, was a year that redefined Kenya’s cinematic landscape and set a solid foundation for growth in the years ahead.