Actress Sarah Hassan has landed a lead role on a TV show titled Crime & Justice, gritty police procedural and legal show set in Nairobi.

She co-stars alongside veteran actor Alfred Munyua known for his roles in productions like Poacher, The First Grader and Sense8.

Hassan will play the role of Makena while Muyua plays Silas, two detectives at the heart of the topical show that follows one ripped-from-the-headlines case per episode, all the way through to the courtroom verdict.

“When I first read the script, I loved the delivery and realness of Silas as a character. It’s not exaggerated and he’s no Rambo hero; he just tackles his cases the normal way. I found a very real edge with this script, and I hope I’ll do justice to the role,” says Munyua.

Hassan says she is looking forward to playing a detective for the first time in her career.

“This is a very different character; I’ve never played anything like Makena before. It’s very exciting to get a character that makes me grow as an actor.”

Other actors who will be on the crime thriller include Hassan and Munyua are joined by Maqbul Mohammed as DCI Boss Kebo, Paul Ogola as Prosecutor Sokoro and Brian Ogola as Caleb, the resident pathologist, as well as the stage and screen legend John Sibi-Okumu, Muhugu Theuri, Brian Abajah, Martin Githinji and Justin Mirichii (Rafiki, Watu Wote) in guest roles.

Crime & Justice is directed and produced by Adam Neutzsky-Wulff who is working alongside an all-star Kenyan crew, including co-producer Maureen Wanjiku, lighting technician Walter Odhiambo; cinematographer Sammy Maina, who’ll be taking over from Helge Gerull after episode 2; art director Eugene Oyoo; and casting director Lorella Jowi.

While this is the first Kenyan Showmax Original, it is not the first foray into original Kenyan content for the MultiChoice Group, Showmax’s parent company.

Yolisa Phahle, CEO of MultiChoice Connected Video said, “We believe that streaming video is a powerful way to deliver these shared stories. This is one of many more Showmax Originals we have in the pipeline across Africa.”

CANAL+, which will distribute Crime & Justice to its French-speaking base, is also committed to entertainment in Africa. Fabrice Faux, Chief Content Officer of CANAL+ INTERNATIONAL, says,

“As part of our strategy of providing our subscribers with the best original content from the continent, we are proud to partner with Showmax and enrich myCanal as well as CANAL+ channels with such premium series.”