Every September, I find myself glued to Apple’s big event. Not just for the new iPhones, or the polished presentations where Apple somehow makes titanium sound sexier than gold, but because I’m waiting—hoping, really—for a different announcement. Not a phone, not a smartwatch, not even a pair of AirPods. I’m waiting for the day Apple finally tells Kenyans: “Hey, you can officially stream Apple TV+ now.”

Spoiler alert: the iPhone 17 event wasn’t that day.

See, Apple TV+ has built a reputation for some seriously good shows—Severance, Ted Lasso, Silo, Foundation. These aren’t just “good for Apple,” they’re good period. The kind of shows people argue about online, the kind you want to stream legally, conveniently, and without needing a VPN or some other magic. But for those of us in Kenya, watching Apple TV+ still feels like extreme sport. Officially, the service just doesn’t exist here.

And the kicker? Apple TV+ is available right next door in Uganda. Yes, literally across the border, our neighbours are streaming For All Mankind without a hitch. Apple has also rolled it out in Ghana, South Africa, Eswatini, Mauritius, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Cape Verde, Botswana, Guinea-Bissau, Niger, and Gambia. Basically, Apple has picked a scatter of African countries to bless with TV+, but Kenya is still ghosted.

Why? I don’t know. Maybe someone in Cupertino lost the Kenyan paperwork. Maybe they’re testing our patience. Maybe they think we’re too busy bingeing Showmax. But the silence stings, especially since Apple’s own support page, last updated on September 26, 2024, still shows no progress for Kenya.

Now, here’s where it gets even more ironic. Earlier this year, Apple shocked the world by announcing that Apple TV+ would be coming to Android phones for the first time. That’s right: Apple is expanding to Android, but can’t even sort out Kenya. Android users in supported countries will soon enjoy Apple Originals on their Samsungs and Xiaomis, but if you’re a Kenyan iPhone loyalist? Sorry. Keep waiting.

At this point, I almost expect Apple to announce Apple TV+ on microwaves before they give Kenyans access. And that’s what makes it frustrating. Apple loves to position itself as a global company, and Safaricom will gladly bundle you an iPhone with 5G data bundle. But when it comes to services, the real sticky stuff that keeps you locked in, Kenya just doesn’t make the cut.

I can’t pretend I wasn’t hoping the iPhone 17 event would change that. In fact, I had this little fantasy: Tim Cook would wrap up talking about the new A19 chip, flash that trademark smile, and then casually drop, “Oh, and by the way, Apple TV+ is now available in more markets,” including Kenya. But nope. Just another year of envy-watching as Ugandans stream in peace.

Maybe next year. Maybe with the iPhone 18. Or maybe, Apple’s going to keep me hanging until I stop caring (spoiler: I won’t). For now, though, Apple TV+ in Kenya remains a dream that’s harder to watch than an actual Apple TV thriller.