About Pepeta
Pepeta is a Kenyan crime drama set in Kibera, one of the largest informal settlements in Nairobi. The Showmax Original weaves together three connected storylines about young people who chase a future through football while the pull of street crime threatens to swallow the same neighborhood. At its center is Junior, a talented teenage striker whose ability on the pitch makes him a target for both a local football coach and the gangs that control the alleys around his home.
The series was directed by Vincent Mbaya and written by a team that included Damaris Irungu, Charles Ouda and Abigail Arunga, with production by the Kenyan company CJ3 Entertainment. The story was loosely inspired by the real life of Harun Wathari, a footballer nicknamed Rio, and the show uses his trajectory as a starting point to examine talent, poverty and the choices facing the youth of Kibera. Filming took place on location in the settlement, and the production cast several first time and emerging actors in lead roles.
Across its eight episodes Pepeta follows Junior as he balances training under Coach Biki against pressure from a crime boss, while police officer Kepha works to push organized crime out of the area before more young lives are lost. The series premiered on Showmax in November 2022 and was also available on DStv Stream. It drew attention for its grounded depiction of Nairobi street life and for spotlighting a generation of new Kenyan screen talent.
