MKU Hits a Hat-Trick at the National Drama Festivals with Dominant 2026 Performance

Mount Kenya University (MKU) has once again stamped its authority on the national stage, clinching a historic hat-trick as the best overall university at the 2026 Kenya National Drama and Film Festivals held in Nyeri County.

The institution emerged as the most prolific university for the third consecutive year, having also taken top honours in 2024 and 2025, cementing its reputation as a powerhouse in Kenya’s creative and performing arts scene.

MKU dominated across nearly all major categories, showcasing exceptional talent in theatre, film, spoken word, dance, comedy and verse. The university walked away with multiple trophies, national titles and adjudicators’ accolades, underlining the depth and consistency of its creative arts programmes.

Speaking after the announcement, MKU Coordinator of Sports, Film, and Creative Arts, William Luta, described the achievement as a result of teamwork, resilience, and commitment.

“This is a hat-trick. We have emerged the best university overall for three consecutive years: 2024, 2025 and now 2026. Reaching this level has been a result of combined effort. The students pushed beyond their limits, while trainers applied every skill possible to ensure thorough preparation,” said Luta.

According to Luta, MKU secured top honours in several categories including cultural creative dance, solo verse, stand-up comedy and Kiswahili spoken word. The university also delivered strong performances in other categories, finishing second in play, English spoken word, duet dance, narrative and modern dance.

In the film segment, MKU continued to shine, placing second in screen verse and third in feature films, demonstrating its growing strength in digital storytelling and screen production.

The university also secured third position in the Equity Bank-sponsored documentary category, earning Sh. 30,000, in addition to Sh. 100,000 awarded for the top sponsored play.

“We remain committed to nurturing and exposing young talent to the world. This journey does not end here. It only gets better,” Luta added, while thanking the university management for providing the resources needed to support the teams.

The 64th edition of the festival was hosted across Kagumo Teachers Training College, Nyeri National Polytechnic, and Dedan Kimathi University of Technology under the theme: “Bold Storytellers’ Digital Stages: Driving Kenya’s Development through Theatre and Film.”

Several MKU productions earned the prestigious opportunity to perform at the 2026 Gala before the President, senior government officials and Ministry of Education representatives. These included spoken word performances (both English and Kiswahili), cultural dance and solo verse.

Other universities also put up strong performances, with Kenyatta University winning best play, the University of Nairobi taking best narrative, Cooperative University excelling in mime and Kibabii University winning best modern dance.

Beyond university-level competition, the festival also showcased emerging talent from across the country. Overcoming Faith School from Bunyore stood out in the pre-school category, winning the overall Singing Games title alongside awards for Best Costume and Décor, Most Creative Dance and Best Choreography.

Adjudicators hailed teachers and trainers for nurturing young talent, emphasising the importance of age-appropriate content and simple staging to build confidence among performers.

The 2026 edition also reflected the growing influence of technology in the arts, with participants increasingly integrating digital tools and artificial intelligence into storytelling. Many entries aligned with Competency-Based Education (CBE), highlighting creativity, communication and problem-solving skills.

Equity Bank’s Head of Education  Peter Ndoro noted that such initiatives are key in shaping future generations.

“Our goal is to promote financial skills and ambition among learners, positioning them as future drivers of economic growth,” he said.

As the curtains fall on this year’s festival, MKU’s continued dominance not only reinforces its standing in performing and cinematic arts but also highlights the university’s broader commitment to innovation, creativity, and excellence.