Character Arc
Makena is a lead detective with the Nairobi Metropol Police and one of the two central investigators in Crime and Justice. Written as compassionate, determined and emotionally invested in the people behind each case, she drives the investigative half of the show's case-of-the-week structure, working scenes, interviews and evidence before each story reaches the courtroom.
Across the series, Makena confronts cases drawn from difficult contemporary issues, including femicide, domestic abuse and radicalization, which test both her resolve and her faith in the system she serves. Her partnership with the more reserved, veteran detective Silas balances instinct and empathy against procedure and experience, and much of the drama comes from how the two reconcile their different approaches to the same case.
The role marked a departure for actress Sarah Hassan, who has described Makena as unlike characters she had previously played, allowing her to stretch as a performer. Hassan's portrayal was singled out at the 2021 Kalasha Awards, where she won Best Lead Actress in a TV Drama, helping make Makena one of the most recognized figures in recent Kenyan scripted television.
