David ‘Tosh’ Gitonga

EARLY LIFE

David Tosh Gitonga was born on 20 September 1981 in Nanyuki, a town in eastern Kenya. His family nicknamed him “Gitosh” (derived from Gitonga), which was later shortened to “Tosh,” the name by which he is widely known. His father worked as an engineer at Laikipia Airbase and occasionally flew as a fighter pilot; his mother worked in the hotel industry. He attended Moi Nyeri Complex Primary School and later Njiiri High School, where he completed his secondary education in 1999. He then pursued a Diploma in Marketing at the Kenya Institute of Marketing (also referred to as Kenya Institute of Management), graduating around 2002–2003.

CAREER

Gitonga entered the film industry almost by chance. While studying marketing, he interned at Baraka Films (linked to his aunt, a producer who had returned from the United States). There he worked as a production assistant on the 2002 feature Dangerous Affair, an early attempt at contemporary Kenyan storytelling. He spent roughly a decade rising through the ranks, starting with menial tasks (including making tea and photocopying scripts) before becoming a production assistant and later first assistant director. Credits from this period include Afrika, mon amour (2006), Malooned (2007), Garden of Eden (2007), Transit, The First Grader (2010, first assistant director), and others. In 2010 he was selected for the One Fine Day Films workshop (in collaboration with Ginger Ink and supported by Tom Tykwer). Under Tykwer’s supervision he directed his feature debut, Nairobi Half Life (2012). The film tells the story of a young man from rural Kenya who comes to Nairobi dreaming of becoming an actor and is drawn into the city’s criminal underworld. It was a major commercial success in Kenya (holding long theatrical runs and strong box-office figures for a local film), received critical acclaim, won multiple awards, and was selected as Kenya’s official submission for the Best Foreign Language Film category at the 85th Academy Awards. Subsequent directing credits include the TV series Beneath the Lies (2014), the feature Disconnect (2018), episodes of series such as Crime and Justice and Volume (2023), and other television work. He has also worked as a producer and executive producer and is associated with the production company Primary Pictures. He has served as a jury member at festivals, including the Luxor African Film Festival.

PERSONAL LIFE

Gitonga has generally kept his personal and family life private, stating in interviews that it is a “no-go zone.” He is based in Nairobi and has spoken about the influence of his mother’s support and the practical challenges of building a career in Kenya’s film industry.

Gitonga is regarded as one of the key figures who helped elevate contemporary Kenyan cinema onto the international stage with Nairobi Half Life. His career path—from marketing student and entry-level production assistant to award-winning director—is often cited as an example of perseverance in East Africa’s film industry. He continues to work in both feature films and television while advocating for stronger local storytelling.