County 49 is an exciting Kenyan thriller series that examines politics, and how greed, corruption, and nepotism have a huge negative impact on ordinary people. There is an exclusive screening of this show.
The show is directed by Likarion Wainaina, best known for Kenya’s first blockbuster movie, Supa Modo, which has won over 50 global recognitions, including Best European Film for Children from the European Children’s Film Association and Children’s Jury Special Mention in the Generation 14Plus category at the Berlin Film Festival in 2018.
It is also worth noting that it is also produced by Millicent Ogutu, Morning After, and County Queen co-director, Brian Munene, and actor-producer Bruce Makau. Brian Munene serves also as the show’s writer, joined by other members of a talented writing team such as Violin Ogutu (Crime and Justice), Mercy Mutisya (Click Click Bang, Too Early For Bird), Martin Kigondu with veteran thespian John Sibi. Okomu also serves as the story consultant.
The series is surprisingly a complex thriller that takes place in a fictional County 49, Bwatele County, (hence the title), in which a revolutionary gang has taken over. The main characters are the county governor and the police officers determined to bring down the revolutionary gang and restore order.
It features a cast of renowned actors such as Wakio Mzenge, Ainea Ojiambo, Martin Githinji, Nyokabia Macharia, Peter Kawa, Benson Ojuwa, Nick Kwach, Emmanuel Mugo, Angela Mwandanda, and Sam Psenje. As the show continues, viewers will be treated to seeing famous faces that have been on Kenyan mainstream tv for years such as Mzenge, Ojiambo, and Macbul.
Former Selina actor Wakio Mzenge appears as the first lady, sitting governor as she waits for the incumbent governor Ainea Ojiambo aka Okusimba to be indicted as she takes over the position officially. The governor’s captor, Webbo played as Elijah Matata is a man who sees himself as a revolutionary despite the government categorizing him as a terrorist. Malik (Nyokabi Macharia) plays the governor’s chief of staff, a humble ad scrappy warrior.
Macqbul Mohammed played the deputy governor Chris Komu. Emmanuel Mogu is the incumbent governor’s son, Junior, Ben Teke is Bwatele’s unsuspecting minister for security, Sam Psenjen is the minister for finance, and Angela Mwandanda is Okusimba’s wife, Agnes. County 49 makes you think about how government works what kind of Lowe’s they have in place for corruption cases such as this one and how much power they have over its citizens living under their rule. It also highlights how people in power betray each other and how your closest ally makes the plane and prays for your downfall. Also, it shows how difficult it can be for people trying to do good within the community when being watched by someone like a reporter who wants nothing more than to bring them down.
The very first episode is an outburst of activity and suspense in a famous notion story about political pressure and quotes. Things take an outrageous unexpected ton when the governor, Nirma Kunze, is kidnapped by an unknown group fed up with pledging their resources. The governor was Visiting sector 4 with a message of change, but it was a little too late and too little.
Come to 49 is full of twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat. when it may seem only political, some moments of Romans are thrown here and there, which are equally creeping like everything else.
It touches on humanity’s theme through its character’s relationship with each other. Despite the corruption surrounding them, the character shows each other compassion when except for the part where Okusimba had to poison his supporters and militia in order to get away with the 4 billion loot, which was to be shared among them.
The actors deliver the lines with confidence and is making this film unforgettable you will see how corruption scandals drive people to desperation, violence and the Depression politicians are under from lobbyists making this a spectacular film.
One thing that caught my eye was the Sense of realism, making this film so compelling being a fan of political drama county 49 has indeed left a mark in my mind from the drama, betrayal, friendly familiar faces, relatability to what we as a country, and experiencing and profiling or female leaders, corruption, the power struggle in the struggle to protect the people this film is one of the kind.
This series is entertaining and engaging. It kept me interested throughout the already-released episodes (nine so far with extra episodes being released every Thursday) leaving me guessing What the next episode will entail.
For me, county 49 is one of the best political drama films ever produced in the country thus I give it an 8 out of 10 score. You can catch this amazing series on Showmax.
Below is the trailer for the series.
