11 Best Kenyan Movies to Watch

By Vlad Zakh · September 17, 2026

Kenya’s best-known recent films balance real hardship with a surprising warmth, whether it’s a hopeful romance banned at home or an aspiring actor drawn into crime. Watu Wote retells a real 2015 terrorist attack in which Muslim bus passengers shielded their Christian companions, Kati Kati follows a woman with no memory of her death through a purgatory-like lodge, and Something Necessary has a widow and a former militia member rebuilding after the 2007 election violence. Rafiki, Supa Modo, Nairobi Half Life and Disconnect round out the list.

Watu Wote (2017)

TMDB ★ 7.3

Muslim bus passengers shield their Christian companions during a real 2015 terrorist attack.

Directed by Katja Benrath · 0h 22m

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Disconnect (2018)

TMDB ★ 5.9

A group of Nairobi friends' phone addiction is tested by an experimental social disconnection challenge.

Directed by David 'Tosh' Gitonga · 1h 47m

Where to watch

Stream: Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Something Necessary (2013)

TMDB ★ 6.3

A widow and a former militia member each try to rebuild after Kenya's 2007 post-election violence.

Directed by Judy Kibinge · 1h 25m

Where to watch

Stream: Demand Africa Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Kati Kati (2016)

TMDB ★ 6.7

A woman with no memory of her own death navigates a strange, purgatory-like afterlife lodge.

Directed by Mbithi Masya · 1h 15m

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Supa Modo (2018)

TMDB ★ 7.2

A terminally ill girl's village bands together to help her live out her superhero fantasies.

Directed by Likarion Wainaina · 1h 14m

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Nairobi Half Life (2012)

TMDB ★ 7.4

An aspiring actor's move to the city pulls him into a car-theft ring instead of the stage.

Directed by David 'Tosh' Gitonga · 1h 36m

Where to watch

Stream: Demand Africa Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Rafiki (2018)

TMDB ★ 6.8

Two young women's romance defies both their families and Kenya's laws against it.

Directed by Wanuri Kahiu · 1h 22m

Where to watch

Stream: MUBI, MUBI Amazon Channel, Metrograph, Film Movement Plus, Film Movement Plus Amazon Channel, Fuse+ Amazon Channel · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Pili (2017)

TMDB ★ 6.2

A single mother living with HIV fights to secure her daughters' future through a risky business loan.

Directed by Leanne Welham · 1h 23m

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The First Grader (2010)

TMDB ★ 7.4

An elderly Kenyan veteran fights for the right to attend primary school for the first time.

Directed by Justin Chadwick · 1h 43m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Rent: JustWatch TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home · Buy: Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Veve (2014)

TMDB ★ 6.2

A politician's land grab in a coastal Kenyan town spirals into a web of murder and cover-ups.

Directed by Simon Mukali · 1h 30m

Where to watch

Stream: Demand Africa Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Battle for Laikipia (2024)

TMDB ★ 6.8

A documentary looks at escalating land conflict between Indigenous herders and colonial-descended landowners.

Directed by Daphne Matziaraki & Peter Murimi · 1h 34m

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.

Vlad Zakh

Founder, Movieix

Founder of Movieix. He started the site because most recommendation pages felt like noise. Here, lists are sorted by who's in the film, where it's from and what mood you're in tonight.

11 Best Kenyan Movies to Watch

Watu Wote (2017)

Disconnect (2018)

Something Necessary (2013)

Kati Kati (2016)

Supa Modo (2018)

Nairobi Half Life (2012)

Rafiki (2018)

Pili (2017)

The First Grader (2010)

Veve (2014)

The Battle for Laikipia (2024)

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