Kenyan documentary filmmaker Peter Murimi has been invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, becoming the latest Kenyan filmmaker to earn membership in the organisation behind the Oscars.
Murimi is among 529 artists and film executives invited to join the Academy's 2026 membership class, according to an announcement by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
The invitation recognises distinguished contributions to the global film industry and, if accepted, will allow Murimi to vote in future Academy Awards, including the Documentary Feature category and the Best Picture race.
According to entertainment publication Sinema Focus, Murimi has been invited to the Academy's Documentary Branch, following nearly two decades of work as a documentary filmmaker whose films have tackled complex social and environmental issues in Kenya.
Announcing the new class, Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Lynette Howell Taylor said they were pleased to welcome the latest group of filmmakers and industry professionals.
“We are delighted to invite this remarkable group of film artists and professionals from around the world to join the Academy,” said Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Lynette Howell Taylor. “Through their commitment to filmmaking, this year’s exceptionally talented class has made significant contributions to our global movie industry.”
The Academy said the 2026 invitees include 95 Oscar nominees, among them 21 winners, as well as three recipients of the Scientific and Technical Awards.
The organisation added that 42 per cent of the new class are women, 56 per cent are from underrepresented communities and 53 per cent come from 60 countries and territories outside the United States, reflecting its continued efforts to broaden international representation.
Murimi is best known for directing I Am Samuel, a documentary that follows the life of a Kenyan man navigating love, family and identity in a country where same-sex relationships remain criminalised.
Produced by Toni Kamau, the film attracted international acclaim but was banned in Kenya by the Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) in 2021, which argued that it promoted same-sex relationships.
The celebrated filmmaker also co-directed The Battle for Laikipia with Greek filmmaker Daphne Matziaraki. Released in 2024, the documentary examines the long-running conflict between indigenous pastoralist communities and white landowners in Laikipia, highlighting how historical injustices and climate change continue to shape the region's tensions.
His Academy invitation further strengthens Kenya's growing presence within the global film body.
He will become the seventh Kenyan to join the Academy. He follows documentary filmmaker Sam Soko, who was invited to the Documentary Branch in 2025.
Other Kenyan Academy members include Oscar-winning actress Lupita Nyong'o, filmmaker Judy Kibinge, director Wanuri Kahiu, producer Toni Kamau, and filmmaker Wanjiru Njendu.