Pendo

Pendo
GenreSoap opera
Created byFaith Koli
Developed byFaith Koli
Written byGrace danile
Lucia Shikuku
Starring
  • Riziki Ambrose

Eddie Peter Gebhard

  • Stella Mungaia
  • Lawryn Odhiambo
  • Victoria Wakio Mzenge
Theme music composerJibril Blessing (J Blessing)
Opening theme"Pendo"
ComposerJibril Blessing (J Blessing)
Country of originKenya
Original languagesSwahili
English
No. of seasonsSeven
No. of episodes91
Production
Executive producerFaith Koli
Producers
  • Natasha Koli
  • Ruth Achieng
Production locationsHurlingham, Nairobi
CinematographyJohn Tumbo Mbugua
EditorsAmbrose Muindi
Michael Kuria
Kelvin Kioi
Camera setupMbugua Tumbo
Running time40 minutes
Production companyDIL Pictures
Original release
NetworkNTV
Release3 December 2014 (2014-12-03) –
2 November 2016 (2016-11-02)

Pendo is a Kenyan drama television series that airs on NTV and premiered on 3 December 2014. The series is written by Grace Danile and produced and distributed by DIL Pictures.

Premise

It is a journey with Maria in a story of her return home after 5 years of incarceration at the Women’s Maximum Prison. Her beloved husband, Juma, has taken in another wife - Maria’s former ma, – Mwelu. Mwelu as the step-mum “Mama wa Kambo” disintegrates the once close-knit family. Maria, a mother of two, also has to look for her daughter Sita, who is caught up in a survival battle. Moreover, Kongo, her angry teenage son, has been taken in by a local children’s home during Maria’s absence and is getting out of hand as a social misfit.

Cast

  • Eddy Peter Gebhard as Sudi[1][2]
  • Stella Mungai as Pearl[1][3]
  • Lawryn Odhiambo as Mwelu[1]
  • Victoria Wakio Mzenge as Maria[1]
  • Ambrose Riziki as Sita[1]
  • Alex Kihayo as Alfonse[1]
  • Godfrey Matengo as Kirafa[1]
  • Daniel Kevin Bwakali as Ephatus
  • Hadson Mathenge as Lucas
  • Innocent Njuguna as Lema[4]
  • Blessing Lung'aho[5]
  • Maina wa Ndung'u as Mariko

Awards and nominations

Year Ceremony Category Nominee Result Ref.
2015 Kalasha Awards Best Drama TV series Pendo Nominated [6]
Ambrose Riziki Best Lead Actress in Drama Won [6][7]
2016 Riverwood Academy Awards Best TV series Pendo Nominated [8][9]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "NTV unveils new shows". nation.co.ke. Retrieved November 4, 2015.
  2. ^ Kamau, Richard (2018-10-01). "From a Life of Crime and Hard Drugs to Acting: Eddy Peter Tells It All". Nairobi Wire. Retrieved 2026-03-06.
  3. ^ This is a powerful scene where Madam Pearl is beaten at her own game by the one and only Mr. Kirafa. | Pendo Series. Retrieved 2026-03-06 – via www.facebook.com.
  4. ^ "Innocent Njuguna profile". kenyabuzz.com. Retrieved November 6, 2015.
  5. ^ "Actors Serah Ndanu, Kevin Samuel, Sheila Ndanu make TV comeback". Daily Nation. 2022-04-07. Retrieved 2026-03-06.
  6. ^ a b "Kalasha awards news". niaje.com. Retrieved November 3, 2015.
  7. ^ "Awards". actors.co.ke. Retrieved November 3, 2015.
  8. ^ "FULL LIST OF RIVERWOOD ACADEMY AWARDS 2016 NOMINEES AND VOTING PROCESS". Actors.co.ke. Retrieved 11 March 2016.
  9. ^ "All set for the 3rd Riverwood Awards". Nairobi News. Retrieved March 6, 2026.