KCF TEAM
Kevin Mwachiro
Creative Director
Kevin Mwachiro is a Kenyan writer, podcaster, journalist, and queer activist. He has authored Invisible - Stories from Kenya's Queer Community and was part of the editorial team for Boldly Queer - African Perspectives on Same-sex Sexuality and Gender Diversity. Kevin's most recent work of fiction is the short story Number Sita, published in the anthology Nairobi Noir. His play, Thrashed, is part of the Goethe Institut's "Six and the City" collection. In 2017, he launched a story-telling podcast called Nipe Story, which produces audio versions of short-story fictional stories from the African continent. Kevin is also a co-founder of the Out Film Festival, the first LGBTQI film festival in East Africa. He currently serves on the boards of PEMA Kenya, a grassroots LGBQTI organisation, and Amnesty International-Kenya.
ZIPPY KIMUNDU
Co-Founder
Zippy Kimundu is an award-winning Kenyan Filmmaker who has been working in the global industry for nearly two decades. She holds a Masters in Fine Arts from New York University and has worked globally in over 20 countries. She co-directed a short Documentary, 'a fork, a spoon & a KNIGHT' with renowned Director Mira Nair, was the Assistant Editor on the Disney Film 'Queen of Katwe' and her short film 'Mercy' leads the 'Think Twice Movement'.
Her award winning Feature Documentary 'Our Land, Our Freedom' premiered at IDFA/Sheffield in 2023 and her 2025 release 'Widow Champion' premiered at Hotdocs/Tribeca and continues to create global impact.
Zippy is a Sundance, Chicken & Egg, Logan Elevate/IDA, IDFA, Hotdocs, World Cinema Fund/ACP and Ford Foundation fellow, who has worked with numerous organisations including Universal studios, Nelson Mandela Foundation, Mastercard Foundation, UN, World Bank, US State Department, British council, BBC, Google, British Red Cross, among others.
She is the Creative Director, a Film Educator at https://www.illtellyoumystory.com, the co-founder at www.terracekilifi.com and Founder at www.afrofilmsinternational.com, a creative collective working to ignite socio-political consciousness and action, across continents.
Mumo Liku
Co-Founder
Mumo Liku loves the colours blue and green, but only in their darker shades. A natural-born organiser, passionate about entrepreneurs and their empowerment, he holds a BA in Communications from Daystar University, and an MA in Creative Enterprise from University of Reading, UK. A huge fan of rice and coconut beans, he can also be found dancing enchantingly, meeting new and interesting people, and generally adventuring outdoors.
Saitabao Kaiyare
Co-Founder
Saitabao Kaiyare often seen wearing jewellery traditional to his Maasai people, and symbols of ancestral calling and guidance, he holds a Certificate in Film Design, from Filmakademie, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany and a BA in ICT from Kenya Methodist University. With an uproarious sense of humour that celebrates the absurd, Saita believes that playfulness and laughter are important tools to bring to work and life, especially when there are heavy topics at hand. He can be found eating Viazi Karai, biryani, Nyama choma, or taking walks among the trees.
Wakarima Wangui
Festival Manager
Wakarima is an award-winning producer and storyteller with a Bachelor's degree in Film and Theatre Arts. She is passionate about authentic African cinema and has dedicated her career to championing stories that reflect the richness, complexity and beauty of African life. Her mission is simple but powerful; to help bring African stories by us, for us to audiences across the continent and around the world.
Beyond the screen, Wakarima is a natural community builder who thrives on creating spaces where collaboration, creativity, and culture meet. She has extensive experience in festival management, having worked on several cultural and film events that celebrate African storytelling and talent such as Slum Film Festival, Udada Film Festival and KITFest. In addition to her work in festivals, she also teaches film and theatre arts, where she mentors young creatives and inspires the next generation of African storytellers.
Whether she's producing films, curating conversations, or amplifying the voices of fellow filmmakers, Wakarima brings warmth, vision, and purpose to everything she does.
She's thrilled to be part of the festival's communications team this year and looks forward to a vibrant, connection-filled celebration of storytelling and creativity.
Naomi Molilybo Ernst
Festival Coordinator
Naomi Molilybo Ernst serves as Festival Coordinator, managing the day-to-day coordination of festival programming and logistics. Her attention to detail and collaborative approach ensure that every aspect of the festival runs smoothly, from guest relations to technical execution.