About Crime and Justice
Crime and Justice is a Kenyan crime and legal drama that premiered on Showmax in 2021 as the platform's first original series produced in Kenya, and its first co-production with the CANAL+ Group. Set in Nairobi, the show follows two detectives with the Nairobi Metropol Police, Makena and Silas, as they work a single ripped-from-the-headlines case in each episode, carrying every investigation from the crime scene through to the courtroom verdict. The format pairs procedural detective work with legal drama, giving each self-contained episode both an investigation and a trial.
Across its two eight-part seasons, the series dramatized topical issues drawn from contemporary Kenyan life, including femicide, domestic abuse, terrorism and radicalization, while examining the limits and pressures of the justice system. Makena is written as a compassionate and determined lead investigator, while Silas is a seasoned, methodical detective who has spent years in the service and tackles his cases without theatrics. Their partnership anchors a rotating roster of cases that move between police stations, morgues and the prosecutor's office.
The production drew attention as a milestone for Kenyan scripted television, assembling an established local cast and a team of directors including Likarion Wainaina and David Tosh Gitonga. Sarah Hassan's performance as Makena earned her the Best Lead Actress in a TV Drama prize at the 2021 Kalasha Awards, and the series itself was recognized in the Best TV Drama category. The first season aired in 2021 and a second season followed in 2022, continuing the case-of-the-week structure with the same core investigative team.
