KEN AMBANI, REGINA-RE AND STEPHANIE MUCHIRI IN NEW TV SERIES A BETTER LIFE

New Kenyan drama series A Better Life follows a young activist from Nairobi’s biggest slum, caught between her love for the governor’s son and the system she’s dedicated her whole life to fight. Written and directed by Jennifer Gatero , the series is now streaming on Showmax.

Gatero was inspired to create the series while stuck in traffic around Kibera. “I saw these apartments that were involved in a huge scandal that were sitting on land that was once a part of Kibera. The residents had been evacuated with the hopes of building something better for them but when the project was complete, the apartments were sold or rented out at a market rate that the residents couldn’t afford,” Gatero explains.

She couldn’t get the idea out of her head, and so she went home and did her research. “I found out that the slum upgrade scandal had happened over and over to so many people in the city. A Better Life is used ironically here.”

The series captures how unsuspecting residents lose their homes and properties in slum upgrade scandals, and the corruption within the system that still allows it to happen. “What I love most about this series is that at its core, it’s a story about establishment versus anti-establishment, which describes what Kenya is. There are those who support the government and those who are against it, those who benefit and those who don’t,” Gatero says. “I also love the fact that these two contrasting worlds are represented by a sweet love story.”

A Better Life’s star-crossed love story is led by young actors Stephanie Muchiri and newcomer Owen Nyasato. “I wanted my two leads in love to be young because there is nothing as intense and as endearing as young love. It does not take into account what else is at stake.”

The series also stars veteran actor Ken Ambani, Regina-Re, Nyakundi Isaboke and Gitura Kamau, alongside a predominantly young cast of newcomers like Tana Gachoka, Ntinyari Karani, Kelvin Kasyoki, Natalia Kyalo, Jeff Omondi and Samuel Baraza.

“I love working with young actors, and newcomers. They have such an energetic spirit, and are always willing to learn, so directing them is such a joy,” Gatero says. “And experienced actors like Ken Ambani, Regina-Re and Nyakundi Isaboke were like mentors to the young actors on set. I grew up watching Ambani on TV, and I’ve always wanted to work with him. Such a great overall experience.”