Kenyan actress and producer Shirleen Wangari debuts her first feature film, Cards on the Table: A Christmas Movie, on November 29, 2025, at Century Cinemax, Garden City Mall, Nairobi.
Wangari’s production company, Blackwell Films, brings this romantic comedy-drama to life as a high-stakes holiday heist set in 1992 Nairobi.
The story follows Jackso and Beth, a desperate ex-couple who plot to steal gate collections from the city’s biggest Christmas Eve bash.
Their unresolved tensions erupt into a public argument, drawing police attention and landing them in custody under the relentless Inspector Kip.
Official Synopsis
Jackso and Beth arrive at Nairobi’s largest Christmas Eve party with a plan to rob the gate collections. But their emotional baggage derails the heist, attracting police attention and turning them into ‘state guests’ at a local station.
A Holiday Film With Depth
Director Victor Gatonye (40 Sticks, Kina) describes the film as a “character-driven heist dramedy” that reflects the realities of survival in a tough economy.
“It’s not just about a robbery. It’s about the state of their lives,” he says.
Wangari, who also writes and produces the film, expands on the universe she began with her 2024 short 1992 (directed by Gilbert Lukalia), which was later adapted into a stage play.
“After the short, I knew there was more story to tell,” she shares. “Romantic drama-comedy felt like the perfect fit for Christmas.”
Meet the Cast
The film stars a powerhouse lineup of Kenyan talent:
- Nyakundi Isaboke (Click Click Bang) as Jackso
- Shirleen Wangari (Tahidi High, MTV Shuga 2) as Beth
- Murunyu Duncan (Boda Love) as Ndocha
- Mufasa Poet (Lulu) as Inspector Kip
Kenya’s Growing Christmas Film Canon
Cards on the Table joins a budding list of Kenyan holiday films, following Christmas Love (2021), A Familiar Christmas (2022), and A Merry X-Mess (2023).
With its blend of humour, tension, and emotional depth, Wangari’s film promises to be a standout addition.
Christmas: How Safaricom Choir is Bringing Joy to Kenyan Homes
