Citizen TV has decided to cancel the airing of a show titled "Shamba La Wanyama" following the broadcast of its pilot episode on Sunday, February 4. The cancellation, however, is attributed to undisclosed reasons.
Serah Mwihaki, the scriptwriter for the show, shared on X (formerly Twitter) that "Shamba La Wanyama" has been prohibited from continuing its run on Citizen Television.
Nevertheless, she verified that all episodes of the show are still accessible on ViuSasa, Citizen TV's Video On Demand Platform. Despite confirming the cancellation of "Shamba La Wanyama," Serah refrained from providing a specific reason, leaving Kenyans to speculate on the circumstances surrounding the show's abrupt end.
Want to know why? Head on to Viusasa and watch it then make your own conclusions. I think it’s an important story. Some powerful people think it shouldn’t be told. I say follow the money, who’s likely to lose money if many people watch Shamba and question what’s happening? pic.twitter.com/VWigcQ7TfH
— Serah Mwihaki (@mwihakiwanjeri) February 11, 2024Did you read this?
“I think it’s an important story. Some powerful people think it shouldn’t be told. I say follow the money, who’s likely to lose money if many people watch Shamba and question what’s happening,” defended Serah.
Citizen TV, however, has not officially addressed the cancellation of the show and has not made any announcements through their official communication channels.
The abrupt cancellation of the show has sparked uproar among some Kenyans, with claims that the show may have mocked the church.
Based on George Orwell's novel "The Animal Farm," the show portrays a storyline featuring a prosperity gospel businessman disguised as a church leader.
“John Karanja alias Prophet Reverend Apostle King David (likened to Farmer Jones in Animal Farm) is a charismatic prosperity gospel businessman; he’s in the business of selling hope to the hopeless.
“Every time the economy is on its knees, he has an influx of new congregants. This year his church – the Tumaini Tabernacle of Glory for The Oppressed – has opened five new branches. He’s a busy man. He has groomed his sons to take over in the future…but the future has arrived faster than he expected,” explained Sinema Focus while reviewing the show's plot.
During an interview conducted by the channel to garner support for the show, Serah Mwihaki, the scriptwriter, highlighted that the storyline drew inspiration from a personal experience. In this experience, her mother sought assistance from religious leaders while avoiding scientific medicine.
