Blankets & Wine Announce Festival Improvements at the 17 Year Birthday Party Ahead of Kenyan Summer Edition

Nairobi, Kenya, Monday, 10th November 2025: Blankets and wine celebrated 17 years of the festival at a private event this Weekend. The party was an opportunity for the internal team to reflect on the past 17 years of growth in adversity as they rejuvenate for the task ahead of Kenyan Summer edition on 21st December. Reiterating their commitment to quality various members of the team commented on some of the improvements that are under way. As part of the reforms, the festival has engaged an independent architectural team to reimagine its venue layout ahead of Kenyan Summer 2025, ensuring improved flow, comfort, and accessibility for festivalgoers. “We brought in an independent architectural team last week to review the venue from a user-experience perspective,” said Brand Manager, Michelle Njeri. “Their mandate is simple redesign flow, ease crowd movement, and ensure the festival layout reflects the scale and ambition of Kenyan Summer 2025.” The redesign announcement comes as Blankets & Wine celebrates its 17th birthday, a milestone underscoring the festival’s legacy of championing African culture, community, and live music since its founding on 8 November 2008. Over 17 years, the festival has evolved from a boutique Sunday picnic to a cornerstone of Kenya’s creative calendar shaping the region’s live music ecosystem and giving artists, fans, and brands a shared cultural space. The Good Times Africa team hosted an intimate gathering to celebrate their years of dedicated service to users through numerous challenges, learning points, and pivots. “The team's enduring commitment has been the magic of making it to 17,” said Muthoni Ndonga, Founder of Blankets & Wine. “No two editions of the festival are the same, and without the passion and care the team puts in, there really would be no Blankets & Wine.” Justine Mbugua, Head of Festivals, added: “Our 17-year history is a story of love and learning. The work we do to create a space for connection and delight for our audiences comes from the heart and while it’s often difficult, it’s necessary to develop the live music sector and circulate the economy. Marking our birthday gives us a chance to look within and re-affirm our commitment and enthusiasm to keep getting better.” Following reports and public speculation regarding its September edition, organizers have reiterated that they have no case to answer and that no formal legal complaints have been received from any authority. “We take every concern seriously,” said Communications Manager, Diane Ywaya. “When fans raise an issue, we investigate it thoroughly, identify what went wrong, and fix it. That’s how we continue to grow with our community.” The team also highlighted that the refund process for drinks and duplicate mobile payments is still in progress. They expressed gratitude for the public's patience, as this process involves a detailed validation effort with finance and vendor teams. They reiterated their commitment to addressing all genuine complaints and ensuring transparent communication with fans and partners. “Our internal audit helped us refine not just systems, but also our relationship with audiences,” added Njeri. “We’ve listened, learned, and applied those lessons to build a better experience for everyone.” Despite the challenges of the past edition, enthusiasm around Blankets & Wine remains strong, with fans taking to social media to speculate on the upcoming artist lineup for the December 21 edition of Kenyan Summer 2025 at Laureate Gardens, Kasarani. “Blankets & Wine has always been that space for you to discover, love, and share,” Ywaya added. “We are humbled by the excitement around our artist reveal and grateful for a community that continues to grow with us.” As it enters its 17th year, Blankets & Wine says its focus is clear to continue innovating, rebuilding trust, and curating safe, joyful, and culturally rich experiences for audiences across Africa.