Shuga Global premiered its new Shuga Mashariki Shorts anthology on Saturday, 25 July 2026, at Siaya County Club in Siaya County, launching a national rollout of three original Kenyan short films, according to a media statement issued on 31 July 2026.

The premiere opened with The Test, the first film in the series, directed by Trevor Sudi. Shuga Global said the Siaya event brought together its team, the cast and crew, partners, stakeholders and community members for a first public screening.

The organisation said the premiere also included a panel discussion featuring Zilper Imbuye, County PMTCT Coordinator, and Maida Nyawade, Director, Youth Affairs, Gender & Social Services at the County Government of Siaya, among others. According to the statement, the conversation addressed harmful gender norms, encouraged young men to share experiences and emotions, and examined how these attitudes can contribute to gender-based violence.

Shuga Global described The Test as a story of a young couple navigating relationship trust and communication when the male partner agrees to take an STI test with his girlfriend, including pre-test counselling that surfaces “fear, shame and lies.” The film, the organisation said, is intended to prompt reflection on shared responsibility and healthier relationship conversations.

In the same statement, Shuga Global positioned the anthology as part of its organisational transition from its former identity, MTV Staying Alive Foundation, while maintaining its focus on youth health and rights communication through storytelling.

“Shuga Mashariki Shorts embodies the future of Shuga Global, demonstrating our commitment not only to telling powerful stories but also to investing in the storytellers who will shape Africa’s creative future,” said Mitchelle Kimathi, Kenya Country Manager at Shuga Global. “Through authentic Kenyan stories, emerging filmmakers and community conversations, we envision that these stories will inspire young people to reflect, connect and make informed choices while reminding them that every meaningful conversation has the power to change a life.”

Shuga Global said the anthology will continue with Unwrapped, premiering in Nakuru on 12 August to align with International Youth Day, before concluding with Butterflies in Nairobi on 25 August. Beyond the public premieres, the organisation said it will conduct campus and student-housing screenings, each accompanied by moderated discussions intended to deepen engagement with themes such as gender norms, masculinity and emotional wellbeing, and pathways to support services.

The series also marks a milestone for Shuga Global’s Talent Accelerator Programme (TAP), which the organisation described as a hands-on initiative to identify, mentor and equip emerging filmmakers in Kenya. Shuga Global said the three films are directed by TAP graduates Trevor Sudi, Lynn Gitau and Juliet “Koi” Muiruri, who previously supported earlier Shuga productions before moving into lead directing roles.

In a collective statement quoted in the release, the directors said: “As alumni of the Shuga Global’s TAP Programme, we are honoured and proud to bring Shuga Mashariki Shorts to life as a collective project and as individual original stories… we are challenging harmful gender norms and encouraging open conversations.” They added: “This anthology is a testament to how mentorship and hands-on experience can empower young creatives to tell authentic stories that inspire social change across our communities.”

Shuga Global said the films were produced in collaboration with AR Films under the leadership of Daudi Anguka, and developed under mentorship from Voline Ogutu, Eric Mdagaya and Brian Munene. The release also linked the projects to research insights from Surround Sound Kenya, which it described as a collaborative initiative between Shuga Global, Shujaaz Inc and PATH focused on understanding social norms affecting young people’s wellbeing and opportunities.

For Kenya’s creative economy, the rollout underscores a growing model in which film and digital content are paired with structured talent development and community engagement. The scheduled screenings in Siaya, Nakuru and Nairobi also point to deliberate regional activation beyond the capital, a strategy that can widen access and audiences for locally produced screen content.

Shuga Global said the next milestones for the anthology are the Nakuru premiere on 12 August and the Nairobi premiere on 25 August, alongside campus screenings that will run in parallel with the public events.

MTV Staying Alive Foundation has rebranded as Shuga Global and launched its first project under the new identity, the Mashariki Offscript Podcast, following the conclusion of a partnership with Paramount at the end of March 2026.

The organisation announced the change on April 16 at a launch event held at KOFISI Square in Nairobi, which it said was attended by development partners, cast and crew, media and members of the creative community. The podcast, hosted by Shuga Mashariki cast member Makena Kahuha and media personality Muchina Maloba, became available for streaming on Spotify and YouTube, alongside other digital platforms, according to the press release dated April 17, 2026.

The rebrand comes as Shuga Global positions itself for new partnerships and a broader slate of content. In its statement, the organisation said the transition followed the end of the Paramount partnership in March 2026 and was agreed through a “mutual transition” aligned to its future direction.

For Kenya’s creative and digital media economy, the announcement is significant because it signals continued investment in locally produced audio and screen content with national distribution ambitions. The organisation said the Mashariki Offscript Podcast will release weekly episodes and will be accompanied by “regional and national radio distribution” intended to reach more young people across Kenya.

Wame Jallow, Executive Director of Shuga Global, said the name change reflects an organisational shift while maintaining the Shuga franchise’s approach to youth-focused storytelling. “Rebranding as Shuga Global signals an exciting new era for our organization as we continue to evolve,” Jallow said. “Young people increasingly face complex interconnected issues, and we will continue to innovate and look forward to working with new partners and supporters to grow our impact on young people’s lives and their communities.”

Mitchelle Kimathi, Country Manager, Kenya, Shuga Global, said the podcast was designed to capture and amplify conversations already taking place among young people. “Offscript Podcast came from a simple belief, that the conversations young Kenyans are already having deserve to be heard,” Kimathi said. “We went to where young people are, to their campuses and living spaces to converse with them and we listened keenly.”

According to the statement, the podcast was recorded over a month across three universities: the University of Nairobi, Egerton University in Njoro (Nakuru) and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology in Siaya. It described the format as “community-style radio” centred on campus-based conversations about pressures affecting young people’s lives and livelihoods.

The organisation also pointed to its audience performance in Kenya as evidence of continued demand for local youth-focused storytelling. It said MTV Shuga Mashariki, which returned in 2025 after more than a decade away, accumulated about 5.3 million views in its first season. It added that Season 2, which premiered on Citizen TV in February 2026, had surpassed 8.3 million YouTube views at the time of the announcement.

Shuga Global further cited Season 1’s collaboration with the Sema Na Me support chatbot, saying it extended the show’s reach into direct youth support and highlighted issues including mental health, gender-based and intimate partner violence, and livelihoods. The statement did not disclose chatbot usage figures.

Looking ahead, Shuga Global said it is developing “Shuga Mashariki Shorts,” an anthology film series targeted for release in June 2026, with additional details to be provided later.

MTV Staying Alive Foundation has rebranded to Shuga Global, marking the end of a partnership with Paramount that concluded at the end of March 2026, the organisation said in a media statement dated 17 April 2026. The rebrand was announced at a launch event held on 16 April 2026 at KOFISI Square in Nairobi, attended by development partners, cast and crew, media and members of Kenya’s creative community.

According to the statement, the rebrand is intended to expand the organisation’s reach, partnerships and the range of stories it produces under the Shuga franchise, which has been active in Kenya since 2009. The organisation said the transition followed a “mutual” process tied to a shared vision for its future after the Paramount partnership ended.

Shuga Global’s first release under the new identity is the Mashariki Offscript Podcast, a 10-episode series hosted by Shuga Mashariki cast member Makena Kahuha alongside media personality Muchina Maloba. The podcast launched on 17 April and is available on Spotify, YouTube via Shuga Global and other digital platforms, the organisation said.

“Rebranding as Shuga Global signals an exciting new era for our organization as we continue to evolve,” said Wame Jallow, Executive Director of Shuga Global, in the statement. Jallow added that the organisation would “continue to innovate” and work with new partners, while acknowledging Paramount, MTV and other stakeholders who have supported its work.

Mitchelle Kimathi, Country Manager, Kenya, Shuga Global, said the podcast was designed to capture youth conversations in spaces where young people live and study. “Offscript Podcast came from a simple belief, that the conversations young Kenyans are already having deserve to be heard,” Kimathi said, adding that the recordings were based on on-campus engagement and listening sessions.

The organisation said the podcast was recorded over a month across three universities: the University of Nairobi, Egerton University in Njoro (Nakuru) and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology in Siaya. Episodes are expected to drop weekly and will be accompanied by regional and national radio distribution “to reach more young people across Kenya,” according to the statement.

For Kenya’s media and creative economy, the shift signals an effort to deepen multi-platform distribution beyond television into audio and radio formats—channels that remain significant for mass reach and local-language consumption. The move also reflects growing competition for youth audiences across streaming, social media and on-demand formats, particularly for content that blends entertainment with social messaging.

Shuga Global cited viewership metrics for its Kenyan TV franchise as an indicator of audience demand. It said MTV Shuga Mashariki accumulated about 5.3 million views in its first season, while Season 2—premiered on Citizen TV in February 2026—had surpassed 8.3 million YouTube views at the time of the release. The organisation also referenced the Sema Na Me support chatbot collaboration in Season 1 as an example of extending storytelling into direct youth support, linking discussions to issues such as mental health, gender-based and intimate partner violence, livelihoods and relationships.

Looking ahead, Shuga Global said it is developing Shuga Mashariki Shorts, an anthology film series expected for release in June 2026, with further details to be announced. The organisation said the broader Shuga franchise broadcasts across 40 African countries, positioning the new identity to continue regional distribution while expanding partnerships and formats.