Showmax & CANAL+ confirm production of hit Kenyan procedural Crime and Justice Season 2

It’s official: Filming has begun for Crime and Justice Season 2, the latest instalment of the hit Kenyan police procedural and legal drama.

Crime and Justice, which is Kenya’s first Showmax Original and the first co-production with global broadcaster CANAL+ Group, follows detective duo Makena (Sarah Hassan, Famous, Just In Time) and Silas (Alfred Munyua, Nafsi, The First Grader) as they investigate one-ripped-from-the-headlines case per episode.

The first of its kind in Kenya, Crime and Justice Season 1 was praised by fans for addressing difficult topical issues in the country such as femicide and domestic abuse, terrorism and radicalisation, while also exposing the limits of the justice system in Kenya.

Nominated for three Kalasha Awards

Recently, Crime and Justice was nominated for three Kalasha awards across all the TV Drama categories: Best TV Drama, Best Lead Actor (Munyua) and Best Lead Actress (Hassan).

KenyaBuzz hailed it as “the perfect Kenyan Original… intensely satisfying” while Quartz credited it with “keeping real-life crimes from being buried… reviving debate and discussion around controversies that might have otherwise faded from the news.”

Crime and Justice was also the most popular show among Showmax subscribers in Kenya when it premiered in February 2021 and remained in the top spot for nine weeks straight. The show was also the most-watched content in Kenya for the first three months after its launch in terms of both unique users and profiles. 

Makena and Silas are back

Hassan and Munyua will reprise their lead roles as detectives Makena and Silas respectively in the second season, which is coming to Showmax and CANAL+ Premiere in 2022. Also returning is Maqbul Mohammed (Makutano Junction) as DCI Boss Kebo, Paul Ogola (Kati Kati, Sense8) as the no-nonsense prosecutor Sokoro, Brian Ogola (Lusala, Poacher) as the resident pathologist Caleb, and Koome Kinoti as Makena’s troublesome teenager Yaro.

Crime and Justice is directed by Adam Neutzsky-Wulff (All The Little Things We Kill, You Are Here) and Kenyans Likarion Wainaina (Supa Modo, winner of over 50 international awards, including a Special Mention at Berlin), Tosh Gitonga (AFI Audience Award Breakthrough winner Nairobi Half Life) and Edwin Kamau (40 Sticks).

Speaking about the decision to renew the show for the second season, Timothy Okwaro, MultiChoice Channel Director, East and Southern Africa said, “Crime and Justice was a major milestone, not only as Kenya’s first Showmax Original but also as a representation of the industry’s growth, evidenced by the production quality and positive feedback from our audiences. Fans have been calling for a second season since its debut, so it’s only right to give our viewers what they want.”

He added, “Season 2 promises more compelling crime stories, deep dives into Makena’s mysterious background and also answers whether Silas is still conflicted about what his moral decisions mean for his shifty networks.”

Fabrice Faux, Chief Content Officer of CANAL+ INTERNATIONAL, said, “We are very pleased to offer our subscribers a second season of Crime and Justice, our first African police and procedural TV series under the CANAL+ Original label. We are also very proud to partner again with Showmax to produce together the best premium series for the continent.”

Showmax has largest Kenyan slate

Crime and Justice Season 2 adds to Showmax’s impressive slate of over 150 Kenyan titles – the most extensive for any streamer in the country. Showmax also recently announced Baba Twins, its first Original movie in Kenya, and the second original title after Crime and Justice. 

Showmax also continues to expand its investment across Africa with a diverse slate that includes the recent launch of Ghana Jollof, its first original comedy series in West Africa; the upcoming Showmax Original reality series The Real Housewives of Lagos, the first Nigerian instalment of the global hit franchise The Real Housewives; its first original telenovela The Wife, inspired by Dudu Busani-Dube’s bestselling novel Hlomu the Wife; and the epic fantasy series Blood Psalms set in ancient Africa, another co-production with CANAL+, with much more coming up in 2022.

Watch the Crime and Justice S1 trailer

Since 2018, CANAL+ has produced 10 CANAL+ Original TV series in different African countries with African talents, such as Invisibles, Agent, Cacao, Dead Places, and Mami Wata Le Mystere D’Iveza. CANAL+ now looks to expand its production of Originals in Africa to gradually increase to ten series per year.

Crime and Justice Season 2 will premiere on Showmax and CANAL+ Premiere in 2022. Watch Crime and Justice Season 1 on Showmax.