This archive report was first published on 2 October 2019.
On October 2, 2019, Citizen TV announced the cancellation of its beloved program Machachari, a show that had been a staple of Kenyan television for 13 years.
First airing in 2006, Machachari was a kid's show that revolved around the daily lives and relationships of young children from the ghetto. However, as the young actors grew up, the show struggled to remain relevant, leading to its eventual cancellation.
According to Citizen TV's Production Manager Stanley Ngige, the show's demise was a result of its inability to evolve and adapt to the changing needs of its target audience. 'The story came to an end. This Friday is the grand finale. It didn't evolve to remain relevant to the target audience. The best we could do is develop the story to come to an end so that we can start a new show for the target audience,' Ngige explained.
Despite the show's cancellation, Ngige expressed his pride in the crew's growth and development, noting that many of the actors have gone on to become successful professionals in their own right. 'Working with the crew was a really great experience. Seeing them grow up and become professionals and attract advertisements for TV was amazing,' he said.
