Mount Kenya University has once again stamped its dominance on the national creative stage, clinching a third consecutive overall win at the Kenya National Drama and Film Festivals 2026 held in Nyeri County.
The University not only retained its position as the best University overall, but was also named the most prolific institution for the third year running, completing a rare hat-trick following similar victories in 2024 and 2025.
The Institution swept top honours across multiple categories, including cultural creative dance, solo verse, stand-up comedy and Kiswahili spoken word. It also posted strong second-place finishes in play, English spoken word, duet dance, narrative and modern dance.
Beyond the stage, MKU delivered notable performances in film and digital storytelling, further underscoring its depth and versatility across creative disciplines.
“We have demonstrated resilience in talent nurturing and management by emerging as the best University overall for three consecutive years,” said William Luta, the University’s Sports, Film and Creative Arts Coordinator.
Luta attributed the success to students’ determination, rigorous training and sustained institutional support.
He credited the University management for providing the resources needed to deliver high-quality productions, noting that MKU remains committed to nurturing talent and exposing students to global creative platforms.
The Festival, hosted at Kagumo Teachers Training College, Nyeri National Polytechnic and Dedan Kimathi University of Technology, highlighted the increasing integration of technology and creativity in line with Kenya’s broader development agenda.
Adjudicators praised the festival for maintaining a high level of creativity, consistency, innovation and the growing ability by institutions to blend traditional performance with digital storytelling.
“Such artistic excellence is not just about competition but about shaping the country’s creative economy through talent development and innovation,” they said.
by Muoki Charles
