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John Karanja shares powerful message after Kalasha honour for 30-year film career
03rd May, 2026 04:02 PM
Veteran filmmaker John Karanja has shared an emotional and reflective message after being honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Kalasha International Film and TV Awards 2026, recognising his three-decade-long contribution to Kenya’s film industry.
In his message shared on Facebook on Sunday, May 3, 2026, Karanja expressed deep appreciation to many people, including Njoki Muhoho, who chose his Nderi Village as a filmmaking base, noting that the decision has significantly boosted the visibility and growth of the film business.
“Thank you so much, my big sister, Njoki Muhoho, by choosing #Nderifilmvillage as your film-making home, you have definitely given oomph to #Filmisseriousbusiness and created the environment for more growth to the industry and especially for young makers of film as they #evolve,” he wrote.
He highlighted that the development of the space has contributed to a more vibrant creative ecosystem, which continues to support innovation, collaboration, and industry expansion.
He also acknowledged the late Appie Matere, noting her contribution to the creative space and describing her as a key part of the journey that helped shape the industry’s growth.
“You have created the vibrancy that our industry needs, together with our departed sister Appie Matere (May her soul rest in eternal peace), you have contributed to the rapid development of the ecosystem of film and the creative economy in general,” he added.
Karanja further stated that seeing Nderi evolve into a busy creative hub filled him with humility, adding that filmmakers working from the village represent a new generation of storytellers who are committed to taking Kenyan film to the global stage.
He emphasised the importance of strengthening the industry, stating that the goal is to expand opportunities, grow the business side of film, and ensure long-term sustainable development for creatives working in the sector.
“Seeing Nderi become a beehive of activity makes me feel humbled, together with the generation of makers of film, the many who hail from this village, we look forward to to bringing the glory of the village to the world stage, upset the business of film and put all the stops that will guarantee exponetail and sustainable development of this important industry that we call our career,” Karanja wrote.
Karanja also reflected on the future of the industry, noting that the current progress signals the beginning of a new and promising phase for filmmakers and content creators. He added that the vision is to position Kenyan film as both a social and economic force that benefits current and future generations.
“We are definitely heading to interesting times; the sky is just a step to greater horizons. We are bringing Nderi to the world, we are pulling all the stops to make film a generational social and business blessing for those within and without, while all the time keeping our eyes on the ball,” he wrote.
He urged stakeholders to take the creative economy seriously, calling for structured support that would enable the industry to thrive and compete globally.
Karanja further expressed gratitude for the recognition, describing it as a milestone in his long career dedicated to building and nurturing Kenya’s film landscape.
“We have borrowed this industry from our great grandchildren and we owe it to the Almighty to do what we must by any means necessary to see the vision and mission of our dreams shine like a good blessing. We thank God. It begins,” he added.
Author
Steve Ireri
Steve is a senior writer with over four years of experience in digital journalism. His focus is on the showbiz and human interest stories. Emails: [email protected] , [email protected]
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