[2] Rafiki is the story of romance that grows between two young women, Kena and Ziki, amidst family and political pressures around LGBT rights in Kenya.

[5] Kena helps her father John Mwaura run a small convenience store in Nairobi as he campaigns for a local election.

Kena starts flirting with Ziki, a neighbourhood girl with colourful hair, who also happens to be the daughter of Peter Okemi, John's political rival.

Kena and Ziki have a number of romantic dates, and quickly become very close, but there are tensions about displaying their affection in public because homosexuality is illegal in Kenya.

[6][7] The film is inspired by Ugandan Monica Arac de Nyeko's 2007 Caine Prize-winning short story "Jambula Tree".

The filmmakers initially tried to get funding in Kenya, but that was not possible, so they found co-production partners in Europe as well as financing from Lebanon and the United States.

[9][11] The film soundtracks featured several African artists such as Muthoni Drummer Queen, Chemutai Sage, Blinky Bill, Jaaz Odongo, Trina Mungai, Mumbi and Njoki Karu.

[9] The KFCB warned that anyone found in possession of the film would be in breach of the law in Kenya, where gay sex is punishable by 14 years in jail.

[26] On 21 September 2018, the Kenyan High Court judge, Wilfrida Okwany, temporarily lifted the ban on the film, allowing it to be screened in the country for seven days and meeting the minimum eligibility requirement.