Mkaiwawi Mwakaba

Mkaiwawi Mwakaba is a Kenyan film director and post-production specialist with over 20 years of experience shaping bold, culturally resonant African stories across film and television.

With a background in Film, Public Relations, and Psychology, her work is grounded in cinematic craft and emotional authenticity.

She began her career in broadcast journalism at KTN before transitioning into film, where she has worked across drama, documentary, and long-form television.

Her directing credits include MTV Shuga Mashariki, Makosa Ni Yangu (co-director), Makutano Junction, 4PLAY

(Showmax), and Bella Is Dying, Maybe Next Week (co-director), part of the Docubox-supported Kenya Creates series. As an editor, she worked on the acclaimed feature Nairobi

Half Life, Kenya’s official submission to the 85th Academy Awards, among many other
projects.

Mkaiwawi is Co-Founder of the African Female Filmmakers Collective (AFFC), a regional network championing women in film through mentorship, skills development, and sustainable career pathways with a strong focus on mental-health-aware practice.

She also leads RedFlash Films, a Nairobi-based post-production studio and training consultancy supporting film and TV projects across East Africa.

Her work has been recognized through international programs including Berlinale Talents, Durban Talents, HerArts Film Lab (Italy), and Cinephilia Film Development Workroom (New York), as well as industry honors such as Best Editor (WIFA, 2023) and Best Director (WIFA,
2024).

At the intersection of creativity, strategy, and community, Mkaiwawi is committed to
strengthening African storytelling ecosystems and expanding opportunities for women behind the camera.