Watch Kalasha Awards 2020 winners Pete and Varshita on Showmax

In a year that has changed how award ceremonies are held globally, the Kalasha Awards 2020 ceremony was held on Saturday at Sarit Centre and attended by a limited audience of invited guests while everyone else watched virtually on YouTube.

Hosted by comedian MC Jessie and media personality Kalekye Mumo, the biggest winner of the night was, of course, Kenyan thriller 40 Sticks which scooped nine awards.

In the television category, Maisha Magic’s Varshita, which recently kicked off its fifth season on Showmax, finally won Best TV Comedy after missing out for two years in a row. Varshita beat 2019 winner Nyanya Rukia and 2017 winner Hullabaloo Estate, and also scooped Best Performance in a TV Comedy for Mukami Njiru.

Another winner on Showmax was the Swahili telenovela Pete whose lead Leon Ongaya won Best Lead Actor against Maria’s Brian Ogana and Majuto’s Maxwell Simba.

More great Kenyan series and movies to stream

In Pete, Ongaya plays Mbura, the now-deposed ruler of Funzi Island who lays claim on the coveted throne of Funzi Island, putting him on a warpath with his younger brother Jasiri (Mutran Tamim) when his father dies without naming a successor.

Celebrating the win on Instagram, producer Daudi Anguka said, “It’s a great inspiration for us and we’re just getting started to what is an endless journey of bringing you the best of TV entertainment. We thank all our fans who voted and supported us together with the film stakeholders at large for their continued efforts in supporting local talent in film.”

Maisha Mkanda’s Road to Trauma (episode 10) also won Best TV Documentary. Maisha Mkanda which is executive-produced by John Allan-Namu is a 13-part investigative documentary series which examines different topics of interest and highlights the compelling lives of different people across Kenya.

Past Kalasha Awards winners to watch on Showmax

2019

• Selina – Best TV Drama, Best Lead Actor (Pascal Tokodi)
• Plan B – Best Lead Actress (Sarah Hassan), Best Lighting Technician
• Nyanya Rukia – Best TV Comedy, Best Performance in a TV Comedy (Kazungu Fahamu)
• Our Perfect Wedding – Best TV Reality
• Ensulo – Best Production Design

2018

• My Two Wives – Best Lead Actor (Eddy Peter) and Best Lead Actress (Diana Mulwa)
• The Real Househelps of Kawangware – Best TV Comedy
• Supa Modo – Best Lead Actor in a Film (Johnson Chege), Best Supporting Actress in a Film (Maryanne Nungo), Best Original Screenplay, Best Production Designer

2017

• Sue na Jonnie – Best TV Drama, Best Lead Actor (Martin Githinji), Best Lead Actress (Catherine Kamau)
• Hullabaloo Estate – Best Comedy
• Jela 5-Star – Best Performance in a Comedy (Bilal Wanjau)
• Kati Kati – Best Feature film, Best Director, Best Director of Photography, Best Editor, Best Special Effects and Best Sound Design
• Aisha – Best Lighting Technician

2015

• Veve – Best Feature Film, Best Director (Simon Mukali) and Best Production Designer

2014

• Something Necessary – Best Art Direction