The shortlist for the 2018 Kalasha Awards, which honour the best films produced for the Kenyan audience, was released on Wednesday by the Kenya Film Commission (KFC).
In the category for TV programmes, it appears the bad luck that Citizen TV has in winning journalism excellence awards is following it to its dramas. In the list of TV shows, no actor or actress in the Citizen TV shows is in the list of finalists.
It is only an agriculture programme associated with Citizen TV, Don’t Lose the Plot, that is in the finalists’ list. It is actually produced by the Mediae Company then aired on various stations in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. Citizen TV is the one that airs it in Kenya.
KFC says there were over 1,000 submissions from various people, which were vetted by a team of nine. It is unclear whether any of the Citizen TV dramas applied.
Notable from the list is the way Maisha Magic East has had an impact on the TV scene, as its highlight programmes like Selina, Varshita and Maza are in pole position to pick awards — as are the outstanding actors in those shows.
Below is the list of finalists, which will now be subject to public voting to select the winners.
Best TV Comedy
Varshita (Maisha Magic East)
Mad Buddies (UTV)
The Real Househelps of Kawangware (KTN/ Maisha Magic)
Junior (KTN)
Mafundi (NTV)
Best TV Show
Being Bahati (NTV)
Churchill Raw (NTV)
Sanaa Talks (KU TV)
Pambio Live (Maisha Magic East)
Get in the Kitchen (K24)
Best Host in a TV Show
MC Jessy (NTV)
Mwaniki Mageria (K24)
Size 8 Reborn (Maisha Magic East)
Alex Chamwada (KTN News)
Jack Kibedi & Margaret Kihagi (aired on Citizen TV)
Best Performance in a TV Comedy
MCA Tricky – Churchill Show (NTV)
Kevin Chichi – Churchill Raw (NTV)
Eve D’ Souza – Varshita (Maisha Magic East)
Tear Drops – Churchill Show (NTV)
Makhokha – Hulabaloo Estate (Maisha Magic East)
Best Lead Actress in a TV Drama
Angie Magio (Kate) – Maza (Maisha Magic East)
Diana Mulwa (Tonie) – My Two Wives (KTN Home)
Celestine Gachuhi (Selina) – Selina (Maisha Magic East)
Victoria Mzenge – My Two Wives (KTN)
Catherine Kamau – (Sue) – Sue and Johnnie (Maisha Magic East)
Best Lead Actor in a TV Drama
Martin Githinji (Johnie) – Sue na Johnnie (Maisha Magic East)
Pascal Tokodi (Nelson) – Selina (Maisha Magic East)
Eddy Peter (Gilbert) – My Two Wives (KTN)
Joseph Gachanja – Stringed (KBC)
Samson Psenjen (Saha) – Keru (K24)
Best TV Drama
Selina (Maisha Magic East)
Maza (Maisha Magic East)
Keru (K24)
My Two Wives (KTN Home)
Stringed (KBC)