The Kenya Theatre Awards (KTA) ceremony took place at the Kenya National Theatre this past Thursday night.
Winners of 29 categories were awarded in the event that was filled with theatre glitz and spectacle. The category number is a drop from last year’s 36, which the five-bench jury, led by chair and juror Ian Mbugua said was to elevate the quality of productions. Last year, the jury watched 222 theatre shows across 78 venues in the country.
Here is the list of the winners for the fifth edition of the KTA 2026.
Best Playwright – Original Script
Yafesi Musoke – Bad Girls of the Bible, ChemiChemi Players (winner)
Mohamed Komeja – Picha, Prevail Presents
Martin Kigondu – Of Cords and Discord, Prevail Presents
Saumu Kombo & Mercy Mutisya – Free Me, Taji and Co. Production Limited
Best Director
Mugambi Nthiga – Free Me, Taji and Co. Production Limited (winner)
Nice Githinji – Miss Understood, Astar Productions
Julisa Rowe – Bad Girls of the Bible, ChemiChemi Players
Mike Ndenda – Midnight Poetry, Maina Mind Productions
Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role (Play)
Lucy Wache – Picha, Prevail Presents (winner)
Naomi Wangui – Niqabi Ninja, Chisaina Arts
Nice Githinji – After 4.30, Mvua Press
Allison Kariuki – Kifo Kisimani, Hive of the Arts
Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role (Play)
Michael Ndunda – Picha, Prevail Presents (winner)
Samson Omondi – African Twist, Ketebul Music
Victor Nyaga – Against the Tide, Son of Man Productions
Martin Kigondu – After 4.30, Mvua Press
Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role (Play)
Joyce Musoke – Bad Girls of the Bible, ChemiChemi Players (winner)
Jaleen Waithera – Wangari 2.0, Artspace 254
Foi Wambui – Badassery, Taji and Co. Production Limited
Vivian Kabono – After 4.30, Mvua Press
Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting (Play)
Tobit Tom – Free Me, Taji and Co. Production Limited (winner)
Kimiti Wa Gitau – Wangu wa Makeri, Kwa Ndego Productions
Cosmas Kirui – Kifo Kisimani, Hive of the Arts
Thuita Mwangi – Locked In, Astar Productions & Sanaa Post
Best Breakthrough Female Performer
Renee Gichuki – Free Me, Taji and Co. Production Limited (winner)
Naomi Wairimu – Against the Tide, Son of Man Productions
Suzanne Karani – Picha, Prevail Presents
Afrikan Nduta – Kifo Kisimani, Hive of the Arts
Best Breakthrough Male Performer
Daljit Ochieng – Against the Tide, Son of Man Productions (winner)
Andrew Nganga – Uga Ng’we!, Kwa Ndego Productions
Simon Petero – Paradise of Thorns, Artflame Theatre Network
Olilo Martine – Come Before Winter, Artspace Productions
Best Children’s Play
Beauty and the Beast – Braeburn Players (winner)
Disney’s High School Musical – Rosslyn Academy
The Matatu from Watamu Drove into the Sea – Aperture Africa Productions Ltd
Best Costumes Design
Nancy Aluoch – Bad Girls of the Bible, ChemiChemi Players (winner)
Jaclyn Barbarino – Beetlejuice: The Musical, Braeburn School
Aperture Africa Production – The Matatu from Watamu Drove into the Sea – Aperture Africa Productions Ltd
Carla Unger – Blue Stockings, Rosslyn Academy
Best Kikwetu Production
Wangu wa Makeri – Kwa Ndego Productions (winner)
Horia Mwaki – Andu A Mumbi Production
Nairobi Ilogo Dichiel – In-House Producion & Access Light Media
Atahamia Nguhe – Andu A Mumbi Production
Best Learning Institution (Schools)
Braeburn Gitanga Rd (winner)
Rosslyn Academy
Aga Khan Academy – Nairobi
Brookhouse Karen Campus
Best Lighting Design
Charles Stephen – Midnight Poetry, Maina Mind Productions (winner)
Jazz Moll and Wilfred Onyango – Beetlejuice: The Musical, Braeburn School
Jazz Moll and Wilfred Onyango – Oliver, Braeburn Players
Jazz Moll and Wilfred Onyango – The Iron Snake, Youth Theatre Kenya
Best Musical Score, Arrangement or Adaptation
Modest Chabari – Midnight Poetry, Maina Mind Productions (winner)
Tabu Osusa – African Twist, Ketebul Music
Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Monologue
Makena Kahuha – Miss Understood, Astar Productions (winner)
Naomi Wangui – Niqabi Ninja, Chisaina Arts
Lucy Wache – Picha, Prevail Presents
Nice Githinji – After 4.30, Mvua Press
Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical
Gathoni Waweru – Wangu wa Makeri, Kwa Ndego Productions (winner)
Jeni Stow – Just Juliet, Kenya Amateur Dramatics
Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Monologue
Cosmas Kirui – Locked In, Astar Productions & Sanaa Post (winner)
Faiz Ouma – It’s Such a Good Time, Faiz Ouma
Kevin Maina – Midnight Poetry, Maina Mind Productions
Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical
Jazz Moll – Oliver, Braeburn Players (winner)
Mass Monte – Just Juliet, Kenya Amateur Dramatics (KADS)
Best Performance by a Young Female Actor
Tana Gachoka – Just Juliet, Kenya Amateur Dramatics (KADS) (winner)
Kaveri Shah – The Matatu from Watamu Drove into the Sea, Aperture Africa Productions Ltd
Naomi Girma – Disney’s High School Musical, Rosslyn Academy
Cynthia Thuo – Blue Stockings, Rosslyn Academy
Best Performance by a Young Male Actor
Prajeet Ghose – Beetlejuice: The Musical, Braeburn School (winner)
Maisha Mumo – The Matatu from Watamu Drove into the Sea, Aperture Africa Productions Ltd
Robie Riddell- Oliver, Braeburn Players
Hussein Suleman – Blue Stockings, Rosslyn Academy
Best Producer
Julisa Rowe – ChemiChemi Players (winner)
International Christian Centre Nairobi
Jazz Moll & Joanna Garner – Braeburn Players
Faith Gitari – Maina Mind Productions
Best Production
Free Me – Taji and Co. Production Limited (winner)
Miss Understood – Astar Productions
Midnight Poetry – Maina Mind Productions
Bad Girls of the Bible – ChemiChemi Players
Best set Design
Mercy Muriuki and Mr Geoffrey Namulala – Into the Woods JR, Braeburn Garden Estate (winner)
JUBLAC – Happily Never After, Crony Production
Aperture Africa Production – The Matatu from Watamu Drove into the Sea, Aperture Africa Productions Ltd
Tony Chamberlain – Blue Stockings, Rosslyn Academy
Best Sound Design
Philip Mbaka & Tonny Koome – In the Name of the Father, Kenda Creatives (winner)
Alice Coleman & Pierce Williams – Beetlejuice: The Musical, Braeburn School
Michael Ludenyo – Midnight Poetry, Maina Mind Productions
Mbogua Mbugua Mbugua – Free Me, Taji and Co. Production
Best Spoken Word Production
Midnight Poetry – Maina Mind Productions (winner)
Coffee & Cuddles – Cardiac Poet
Love Notes – Vol II – Frankhie
Best Stage Managed Production
Rita Gitau- Midnight Poetry, Maina Mind Productions (winner)
Harlene Singh – Beetlejuice: The Musical, Braeburn School
Jenny Childs & Anika Bebbington- Beauty and The Beast, Braeburn Players
Sasha Macharia & Makena Mugambi- Blue Stockings, Rosslyn Academy
Best Two-hander Production
Of Cords and Discord – Prevail Presents
Niqabi Ninja – Chisaina Arts
Dampened Spirits – Jukwaa Arts Production
What I Didn’t Say– Chemichemi players
Theatre Company of The Year
Prevail Presents (winner)
Jukwaa Arts Production
Crony Production
Braeburn Players
Best Original Choreography in a Musical/Play
Aperture Africa Productions – The Matatu From Watamu Drove Into The Sea, Aperture Africa Productions Ltd (winner)
Maribel Larson – Beetlejuice: The Musical, Braeburn School
Brian Otieno Oloo – Inceptions, Dancing Feet (Kisumu)
Faith Ekesi & Marna Ibs – Blue Stockings, Rosslyn Academy
Jury’s Special Award (3 winners)
Caroline Ngorobi, Jukwaa Arts Production
Martha Galavu and Masidza Galavu, Shujaa Stories
Esther Kamba, Playreading KE
Lifetime achievement award (living)
Daniel Mbugua
Lifetime achievement award (posthumously)
Margaretta wa Gacheru
Ushirika Award
Royal Media Services
World Impact Award
Adam Chienjo