| Kalasha Film & TV Awards | |
| Current Awards: | 2020 Kalasha Awards |
| Awarded For: | Excellence in Television and Film |
| Presenter: | Kenya Film Commission |
| Country: | Kenya |
| Year: | June 2009 |
Kalasha Film & TV Awards is an annual accolade presented by Kenya Film Commission with a goal to recognize and celebrate achievers in Kenya's TV and film industry.[1] Entries into the award ceremony are films and TV series that have been aired on Kenyan television stations. The inaugural awards were held in 2010 at the Crowne Plaza in Upper Hill, Nairobi and subsequent awards are held yearly at the last quarter of the year at the same venue. The awards represent the five original branches of film making: directors, actors, writers, producers and technicians. However, the Academy organizers will advise on whether or not to include more categories as long as they sufficiently represent the entire film industry.[2]
An academy, consisting of a jury of experts drawn from the industry oversees the nomination and final judging process. 30 per cent of the vote in Kalasha Awards is decided through a public vote while the jury decides on 70 per cent of the categories including the technical ones.[3]
The Academy members are also tasked with advising the awards organisers on how to put out calls for entries and come up with a shortlist of nominees from the submissions received each year.
| Kalasha Award for Best Lead Actress | |
| Awarded For: | Best performance by an actress in a leading role |
| Year: | 2009 Jackline Nyamide Papa Shirandula |
| Holder: | 2020 Yasmin Said Maria |
The Kalasha Awards for best lead actress in drama is an accolade dedicated to the best performing actress in the previous year.
| Year | Actress | TV series | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Jackline Nyamide | Papa Shirandula | [4] |
| 2010 | Elizabeth Wanjiru | Mother-in-Law | [5] |
| 2011 | Nice Githinji | Changing Times | [6] |
| 2012 | Lucy Nyagah | Lies that Bind | [7] |
| 2014 | Mkamzee Mwatela | Mali | [8] |
| 2015 | Ambrose Riziki | Pendo | [9] |
| 2016 | - | ||
| 2017 | Catherine Kamau | Sue na Jonnie | |
| 2018 | Diana Mulwa | My Two Wives | |
| 2019 | Nyce Wanjeri | Ithaga Riene | |
| 2020 | Yasmin Said | Maria | |