President William Ruto offered a rare glimpse into his personal entertainment taste over the weekend, naming singer Bien-Aimé Baraza and actor Joe Kinyua as his top picks in Kenyan music and television.
The revelation came during the 14th edition of the Kalasha International Film and TV Awards, held at the iconic Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) on May 2, 2026.
Ruto shared that he actively follows local content, singling out Kinyua’s performance as Njoro in the hit series Njoro wa Uba.
He praised the show for its grounded storytelling, noting how it captures the everyday realities of ordinary Kenyans.
On the music front, Ruto revealed that Bien’s sound is firmly in his rotation. He went a step further, referencing Finale, the widely celebrated collaboration between Bien and Ali Kiba.
Ruto became the first sitting Kenyan president to attend the ceremony, signaling a shift in how the highest office engages with the creative sector.
For years, Kenya’s film and television industry has operated on the margins of national policy conversations, often fighting for funding, recognition, and structural support.
But the night wasn’t only about personal taste. Ruto used the platform to underscore his administration’s commitment to the creative economy, framing it as a viable engine for job creation and youth empowerment.
In a significant announcement, he revealed that prize money for Kalasha winners would increase from Sh200,000 to Sh500,000 per category, a move aimed at elevating the stakes and rewarding excellence more meaningfully.
Established in 2009 by the Kenya Film Commission, the Kalasha Awards have steadily grown into Kenya’s premier platform for recognizing excellence in film and television.
Often dubbed the ‘Kenyan Oscars,’ the awards span a wide range of categories. From acting and directing to technical fields like editing and sound design. The 2026 edition also introduced new categories for digital content creators, reflecting the industry’s shift toward online platforms.
The name “Kalasha,” derived from a Swahili term referring to the sprouting tusks of an elephant calf, symbolizes growth, an apt metaphor for an industry still finding its full stride.
