Ian Mbugua as Leo Lang’at in Second Family S1 on Showmax
28 April 2023

Second Family Season 1 episodes 1-3 recap: Tragic death and a shocking reveal

In the first gripping episodes of Second Family, we follow the story of Sinde, a small-town girl whose perfect life is shattered when she discovers her father has a shocking secret. 

Agri-billionaire Leo Lang’at (played by Ian Mbugua from Single Kiasi) has been leading a double life, with two families – the Gatehis and the Lang’ats. The Gatehis are Leo's flashy city family, headed by his controlling wife Evangeline and include his three children, playboy Tehi (Nick Ndeda), spoiled socialite Gigi (Stephanie Muchiri), and ambitious Shei (Serah Wanjiru). 

Kenyan telenovela Second Family is now streaming on Showmax

The Lang’ats, on the other hand, live on a remote farm in Uasin Gishu, and are made up of Leo's devoted wife Sophia (Helen Keli), his son Bett (Lewis Leshan), and Sinde (Vanessa Okeyo) – a young woman who dreams of leaving the farm behind and making it in Nairobi.

Watch the trailer for Second Family

Leo’s car crash

Things start to unravel when Leo is involved in a serious car accident, and his families deal with the aftermath in very different ways. Evangeline (Dora Nyaboke) takes control of the situation, while Gigi starts flirting with family friend Cyrus (Brian Ogola) and family employee Joel. Shei won’t leave her bedroom, and Tehi drowns his sorrows in booze and drugs.

Brian Ogola and Dora Nyaboke in Showmax telenovela Second Family

Meanwhile, it's revealed that Leo has been hiding another secret – his company is in serious financial trouble, and he's been covering it up. Cyrus steps in as acting CEO and has to deal with auditors who are sniffing around for evidence of Leo's shady dealings.

Sinde in search for her father

Sinde in Second Family streaming on Showmax

But the real drama unfolds when Sinde travels to Nairobi to find her father, only to be denied entry to his workplace because nobody recognises her. 

It’s only when Sophia travels to the city in the hopes of viewing Leo’s body to pay her final respects, that Sinde discovers why nobody knows who she is: she is her father’s secret child from his secret marriage! 

With Leo’s double life exposed, what will become of his two families? Catch new episodes of Second Family, every Wednesday to Friday, only on Showmax.

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