David “Tosh” Gitonga
David “Tosh” Gitonga is a Kenyan award-winning filmmaker whose work has significantly elevated the profile of Kenyan cinema on the international stage. Gitonga is best known for directing the acclaimed film Nairobi Half Life (2012), which became Kenya’s first submission for the Academy Awards in the Best Foreign Language Film category.
In his filmmaking journey, Gitonga demonstrated a strong flair for authentic storytelling—his debut feature captured the energy, ambition and struggles of a young actor from rural Kenya trying to make it in Nairobi’s gritty environment. Following Nairobi Half Life, he directed other notable projects such as Disconnect (2018), which premiered on Netflix and further helped bring Kenyan narratives to a global audience.
Gitonga’s impact extends beyond individual films. He is a mentor and champion of Kenyan film talent, helping to foster the growth of the Kenyan film industry, expand its reach and spotlight local stories with global appeal. His success has inspired many Kenyan and African creatives to believe that local stories can resonate internationally. Through his innovative direction, Gitonga is helping redefine how Kenyan cinema is perceived—moving it from small-scale local productions into the global film conversation.
