Safaricom Supports ‘Kipkemboi’ Film Launch as a Part of Elevating Kenyan Storytelling

Safaricom (NSE: SCOM) has announced its support for the Kenyan-Canadian film Kipkemboi, reinforcing its commitment to empowering local creatives and leveraging technology to broaden access to homegrown content for audiences across the country.

Shot both in Canada and Kenya, the film tells the story of Kipkemboi, a genius from a small village who develops an algorithm that puts him on the radar of powerful forces.

As part of this sponsorship, Safaricom hosted an exclusive red-carpet premiere, bringing together select cast and crew of Kipkemboi, key stakeholders in the creative industry, and technology partners who are enabling affordable content distribution.

In addition, Kipkemboi is now available on Pasha, a video-on-demand service by Symbiotic Media, enabling Kenyans to seamlessly stream the film on their smartphones from as little as KES 100 for a 30-day pass, or KES 150 for a 30-day pass bundled with 1.5 GB data. Customers can access the pass via USSD *544*46#.

“As a company deeply rooted in Kenya’s culture, we are proud to support a film that exemplifies the richness and global potential of local storytelling. Through this sponsorship, we aim to shine a spotlight on Kenya’s creative potential and inspire more storytellers,” said Fawzia Ali, Chief Consumer Business Officer, Safaricom PLC.

Kipkemboi represents a significant step forward for Kenyan content on the global stage, highlighting the depth of storytelling, acting, and production talent within Kenya and the opportunities for local content to resonate both locally and internationally.

The film is written by Joel Richardson and produced by Canada’s Jennifer Jonas and Leonard Farlinger in collaboration with Kenya’s Appie Matere. It stars a combination of Canadian and African actors, including David Cubitt, Kevin Hanchard, Vinessa Antoine, Abel Mutua, Chichi Seii, and Thamela Mpumlwana. Its director is the acclaimed Charles Uwagbai, who is an award-winning Nigerian filmmaker.

“This is more than a film premiere, it is a celebration of positive and authentic Kenyan stories, talent, and the future of local entertainment. We are pleased to partner with Safaricom and producers like Zamaradito to showcase the potential for Kenyan storytelling to not only be accessible in terms of affordability for the consumer but also on sustainable monetization,” said Mbugua Njihia, Director, Symbiotic Media.

Kipkemboi has already made a strong impression on the international film stage, earning critical acclaim and accolades at the 2024 African Film For Impact Festival (AFFIF), the 2024 Directors Guild of Canada Awards, and the 20^th Africa Movie Academy Awards.

Over the years, Safaricom has been a steadfast supporter of Kenya’s creative industry, continually investing in platforms such as SKIZA and Baze, empowering artists to earn from their work, now enhanced by a direct-to-consumer digital approach that gives creators more control and audiences easier access to local content.

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