Fresh from dominating Kenya’s premier film and television awards, producers Philippe Bresson and Grace Kahaki are calling for stronger action against digital piracy, which they say is blocking subscription revenue, discouraging foreign investment, and threatening the long-term viability of local productions.
The two TV producers, who are partners at Insignia Productions, used the platform of the 14th annual Kalasha International Film and TV Awards to highlight the issue. Their crime drama “Kash Money” dominated the television categories, winning Best TV Drama, Best Director and multiple other acting awards.
Despite the acclaim and a financial windfall, including prize money added by President William Ruto’s pledge of Ksh500,000 per category, the producers described piracy as the industry’s most pressing economic challenge and an existential threat to sustainable growth in the country’s screen sector.
Speaking after the event, producer Bresson said legitimate distribution deals with major platforms were being undermined by widespread illegal uploads, creating a significant crisis for content creators, broadcasters, and streaming services in 2026.
“We have secured deals with Netflix, Showmax, and top TV stations,” he said. “Yet the single biggest barrier to scaling our business is piracy. When our shows are illegally uploaded across multiple platforms, Kenyan subscribers don’t convert. And without subscriptions, global streamers won’t increase their local content spend. That’s lost jobs, lost tax revenue, and lost creative momentum.”
On her part, Kahaki emphasised the high stakes involved in producing quality local content. “Kash Money was a labour of love, but also a significant production investment,” she said. “I am incredibly proud of our team, our cast – including award winners Lenana Kariba, Amara Tari, and John Sibi-Okumu – and our partners Netflix and Okada Media. They took a chance on our vision. But that confidence depends on market protection. Piracy erodes trust in the local value chain.”
For Bresson and Kahaki, the message from this year’s Kalasha triumph is clear: artistic success must be matched by economic structures that allow the industry to thrive.
Without meaningful progress on piracy, they suggest, the celebration of hits like Kash Money may prove short-lived.
Insignia Productions received the night’s most television awards from 18 nominations and took home Ksh2.5 million in prize money.
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