Even with President William Ruto making a historic first appearance at the Kalasha International Film and TV Awards, becoming the first president to grace the ceremony since its inception 15 years ago, the night belonged to a 15-minute and 42-second-long film.
In a first for the awards, the short film Sukari , produced by June Wairegi and directed by Omar Hamza, stole the spotlight. Sukari, which explores themes of marital intimacy, sex education, and cultural expectations within a conservative Muslim community in Mombasa, emerged as the biggest winner of the gala, sweeping six categories and walking away with Sh3 million in prize money on Saturday.
President William Ruto presents John Karanja the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 14th Kalasha International Film and TV Awards in Nairobi on May 3 2026
The film won in the Best Short Film, Best Supporting Actor in Film, portrayed by Jave Samson as Musa, Best Original Screenplay, Best Director, Best Sound Designer, won by legendary music producer Eric Musyoka, and Best Film Score by Frank Matovu categories.
President William Ruto presents Shiksha Arora with the Positive Impact Content Creator of the Year at the 14th Kalasha International Film and TV Awards in Nairobi on May 3, 2026
Photo credit: PCS
Close behind was Kash Money, a TV drama that proved its weight, clinching five awards and earning Sh2.5 million.
Produced by Grace Kahaki and Phillippe Brenson, Kash Money won in the Best Director in a TV drama, Best Lead Actor in a TV drama, won by veteran actor John Sibi Okumu, Best Supporting Actor in a TV drama won by Lenana Kariba, Best Supporting Actress in TV Drama won by Amara Tari, and Best TV drama.
Nawi, a one-hour Kenyan-German feature film which follows the story of a 14-year-old girl in Kenya fighting for her education against forced child marriage in Turkana, also made a statement, winning in the Best Feature Film, People’s Choice Award, Best Production Designer, Best Costume Designer, and Best Lead Actress in a Feature Film, won by Michelle Lemuya, who portrays Nawi categories pocketing Sh2 million.
President Ruto's speech during the 14th Kalasha Awards
All the 36 category winners of the 14th edition of the Kalasha Awards will now pocket a prize money of Sh18 million, up from the initial Sh7.2 million. This President Ruto’S promise at the gala, where he committed to topping up the difference in the initial prize money of sh200,000 per winning category set by the Kenya Film Commission, the organisers of the event.
After taking a year's hiatus due to financial constraints in 2025, the Kalasha Awards returned last Saturday.
14th edition of Kalasha Awards
KFC introduced an awarding scheme in 2019 during the 9th edition of the Kalasha Awards, with a total of Sh1.7 million allocated as prize money to the winners that year. During the 2019 Kalasha Awards edition, each winner received Sh50,000. The prize money was then doubled in the 10th edition.
14th edition of Kalasha awards - Part 2
In this year’s edition, the commission received a total of 185 submissions across all categories. 18 of those categories were subjected to public voting.
This year’s edition also introduced new categories, Digital Content Creator of the Year, won by Edwin Wainaina alias Kadusko, and Positive Impact Content Creator of the Year, won by journalist Shiksha Arora.
