Sequel to popular Kenyan soap

September 2006 -

The soap series Makutano Junction is popular in Kenya. After only thirteen episodes, five million Kenyans were addicted fans of this first high-quality soap series in East Africa. The lives and times around a junction in the suburbs of the (fictional) large Kenyan city of Makutano were avidly followed by viewers. We have Nancy and Karris, a warring couple that love one another passionately, Karis, an unreliable lady’s man, teacher Rose, the mother of four difficult adolescents, Doctor Charles, the new arrival in the neighbourhood, gossiping market women, adulterous businessmen, and more.

photo

Still from Makutano Junction

Makutano Junction was developed by Mediae, a British educational media company. Mediae gathered together a local team of writers, filmmakers and actors, and trained them to make the soap series as professional and appealing as possible to the African public. The director of the famous British soap series East Enders also contributed to the development of the series.
Makutano Junction is more than well-designed entertainment: it is funded by a variety of social organisations. The British Ministry of Development Cooperation also participates in the series, providing the largest financial support. Prevention of malaria, safe sex, parental involvement in education and proper treatment of mules are examples of themes presented in the series. A second series is currently being taped that will also air in Tanzania and Uganda.

Hamilton Juma, web designer from Nairobi: "The drama series is funny, educational and realistic. I say realistic because it is about everyday life in Kenya: the fun things and the difficult ones. The people in the series could live in my neighbourhood. I regularly check the website to see when the new series will start: that is how much I am looking forward to it."
Lector Wilson Masaka adds: "The series shows real life. It is about the rich and the poor, young and old. I like the series." His colleague Mark Kamau continues: "The series was made by Kenyans and tells a Kenyan story. I believe that is a good thing. It is also one of the reasons for watching."