Single Kiasi (Kenyan TV Series)
Single Kiasi is a Kenyan drama series produced by for African streamer, Showmax.
Gathoni Mutua, Faith Kibathi and RHON star Minne Kariuki play the female leads. The show is mainly co-produced and co-directed by Philippe Bresson and Grace Kahaki, the creators of The Chocolate Empire and Netflix's Kash Money.
Single Kiasi is one of the most watched shows on Showmax since its debut in 2022.
In September 2025, Showmax renewed and announced the show's fourth season.
Plot
Single Kiasi follows the lives of Sintamei, Mariah and Rebecca, as they navigate marriage, relationships, and their careers in the Nairobi's concrete jungle. It also explores the strong bond of friendship that these women share, knowing that even when the world crumbles around them, they will always have each other.Season 2 catches up with the trio after a bombshell finalé in season 1. Sintamei starts her own law firm with her business partner and old friend Olivia. Having lost JK, Mariah starts a steamy encounter with a plastic surgeon. Rebecca’s financial struggles continue following her break up with Eric who gets a new girlfriend.
Season 3 follows Rebecca still reeling from being left at the altar and finds solace in her new job as an assistant to her ex-boyfriend, Nick. As they spend more time together, old feelings resurface, and they cautiously embark on a romantic relationship once again. Sintamei embarks on a journey of exploration by embracing polyamory with Giselle and Marcel, while Mariah grapples with the realisation that her once unwavering beauty is fading. Desperate to regain her youthful allure, Mariah resorts to extreme measures to alter her physical appearance.
Season 4 picks up from the dramatic cliffhanger with Sintamei’s world spinning out of control after a night of questionable choices with Nick. Consumed by guilt, she immerses herself in her work, striving to elevate her law firm's profile. However, the arrival of a charismatic and adventurous stranger tempts Sintamei to explore a dangerous path. Meanwhile, Rebecca and Nick's budding romance is tested by mounting family pressures, largely orchestrated by Nick's manipulative mother and his snobbish aunt. Mariah having survived heartbreak and humiliation in the previous season, is determined to shed the victim narrative. She embraces her power and gets entangled into a new relationship where she finds control.
Cast
- Gathoni Mutua as Sintamei, an overachieving, career-focused lawyer who seems to have the life that any woman would dream of.
- Minne Kariuki as Mariah, a sassy woman with a taste for the finer things in life, who uses her looks to get whatever she wants.
- Faith Kibathi as Rebecca, a housewife and a mother of two who has lived with her high school sweetheart for nine years despite not being officially married.
- Kevin Maina as Richie, a young man who has regular flings with older women for money. He is also Mariah's cousin and roommate.
- Michael Munyoki as Eric, Rebecca's high school sweet and father of her two children.
- Lenana Kariba as Nick, a well known TV star and Rebecca's love interest. The two take steps to make the relationship official in season 4.
- Brian Abajah as Andrew, a young intern lawyer at Sintamei's law firm and serves as her love interest in Season 1. They later go their separate ways.
- Mburu Kimani as JK, Mariah's love interest in Season 1.
- Grace Wacuka as Olivia, Sintamei's friend and law firm partner introduced in Season 1.
- Jimmy Gathu as Dickson, Mariah's sinister and possessive lover introduced in Season 3.
- Wanjira Longauer as Stephanie, Sintamei's Senior Partner at her law firm. She is introduced in Season 3. She is hardworking and will challenge Sintamei's work ethic and loyalty.
- Joy Kendi as Joy, Mariah's arch rival.
- Hellen Keli as Delilah, Ritchie's older girlfriend introduced in Season 3. She has plans to start a family, unbeknownst to Ritchie.
- Ciku Shire and Quincy Rapando, as Giselle and Marcel, a polyamorous couple pursuing Sintamei in Season 2.
- Lucarelli Onyango as Kevin, Sintamei's husband of 12 years that secretly lives a double family life. They eventually later go their separate ways in Season 1.
- Derek Bbanga as Henry, Sintamei's boss at the law firm in Season 1.
- Walter Opiyo as Steve, Sintamei's nemesis, who is promoted over her in Season 1.
- Ian Mbugua as Dr Bernard, a plastic surgeon who has a fling with Mariah in Season 2.
- Brian Ogola as Chris, Sintamei's new love interest with a complicated past introduced in Season 4.
- Xavier Ywaya as Boni, Mariah's new love interest that seems to be living a double life.
- Maqbull Mohammed as Mr. Kahaki, a man to who takes a liking to Mariah but things get complicated when his wife has other plans. He is introduced in Season 4.
- Silayio Kirisuaha as Mrs. Kahaki, a wealthy woman that gives Mariah a very interesting proposal. She is introduced in Season 4.
- Daina Njuguna as Rachel, Mariah's and Joy's childhood friend. She is introduced in Season 4.
Production
Development
announced Single Kiasi in January 2022 becoming the second Kenyan Original series after the Kalasha-nominated Crime and Justice, and the streamer's third Original title in the country following the Original film Baba Twins. Insignia Productions, the studio behind Changing Times and New Beginnings, was announced to helm the show with the creative duo Philippe Bresson and Grace Kahaki serving as co-directors alongside Robby Bresson. The show is an adaptation of hit South African series,The show had its exclusive premiere at during the company's first ever content showcase that including a preview of Crime and Justice Season 2.
Following the success of season one, Showmax commissioned a new season with a premiere date in 2023. Gathoni Mutua, Minne Kariuki and Faith Kibathi were confirmed to reprise their roles as leads Sintamei, Mariah and Rebecca respectively. Also returning are Michael Munyoki, Brian Abajah, Kevin Maina, Walter Bruce Opiyo, Derek Bbanga and Maggie Kiundi.
The first teaser trailer for Season 2 dropped in January 2023. New cast members were confirmed to join the season. This included Grace Wacuka as Olivia, a new female lead and Sintamei's wealthy friend who might just be the answer to her problems; Fidel Maithya, Quincy Rapando, Ian Mbugua, Mufasa Kibet aka Mufasa Poet, and Ciku Shire.
The show was renewed for a third season with teaser revealed in February 2024. New featured cast included Nini Wacera, Jimmi Gathu, Ilya Frank, Briyanna Wanjiku, and Wanjira Longauer, with cameo appearances from Joy Kendi, Fena Gitu, Bushra Sakshi, Yvonne Kisa, Kamene Goro, Anne Mwaura and Julius Otieno.
Season four was announced in September 2025 alongside the new cast additions including Brian Ogola, Xavier Ywaya, Maqbul Mohammed, and Silayio Neema. On 2 October, Showmax hosted the premiere event for the fourth season at The Monaco Nairobi. The event was attended by the show's leads and supporting cast.
Release
released season 1 on January 20, 2022 with subsequent episodes dropping every Monday. Season 2 and 3 debuted on the streamer on January 16, 2023 and March 5, 2024 respectively. Season 4 dropped on September 17, 2025.Critical reception
Season 2 received positive to mixed reactions. In a positive review for Season 2, Hapa KenyaSinema Focus' Kelvin Kariuki added: "Single Kiasi is good enough to have on a cosy weekend binge that will have you smiling and enjoying good filmmaking, maybe more than once. But I doubt it will punch differently on different rewatches. That's what makes shows like Sex and the City or Insecure so iconic: you rewatch them at a different age and feel like you are watching them again from a newer perspective because you grow with the characters, not the familiar things that happen in their lives.
Season 3 received mixed reactions. Sinema Focus