MS PRESIDENT REALITY LEADERSHIP TV SHOW LAUNCHED

Media Focus on Africa has opened the application process for a leadership TV reality show “‘Ms. President’” a series which will inspire women and girls to become key players in leadership in all spheres of life. The TV show will also aim to change the attitude of Kenyans towards women and leadership.

The applications opened on the 5th June 2018 and can be downloaded online via https://www.mediafocusonafrica.org/project/ms-president. The launch of applications was presided over by His Excellency Stefano Dejak the Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Kenya. The applications will close on July 27th 2018. Applicants can also express interest by accessing forms from the producing organization, Media Focus on Africa through mspresidentkenya@gmail.com.

In Kenya, as in most of Africa, women are usually not found in leadership positions. They are not generally perceived to have the skills, knowledge or social status needed to bring about meaningful change in post-conflict environments.

Kenya has the least representation of woman in the East Africa region despite the two thirds gender rule provision in the constitution of Kenya 2010.  Currently in the National Assembly female MPs make up only 22%, 31% in the Senate and only 6% of the Governors.  “Ms President” aims at building sustainable female leadership capacity in Kenya by showcasing articulate, intelligent, fair-minded women who are “presidential candidates”.The series will increase the possibility of women in Kenya being called upon to take on leadership positions.

“We are not looking for beauty queens we are looking for #women who are leaders. It’s not just putting women on TV but putting them though leadership training and mentorship” said Frenny Jowi, Project Office, Media Focus on Africa.

The inspiration to produce the “Ms President” reality series in Kenya originated from the Palestinian Ma’aan Television Network, highly popular program ‘The President’, which involved choosing a young Palestinian to be the next Palestinian President.

Kenya’s Ministry of Public Service, Youth and Gender representative was at launch.

“The women who make it into the programme must be the best version of us. We would like to work with all the women that will apply for the program as the Ministry of Gender” – Lydiah Mathia, advisor to CS Ministry of Gender Kenya.

The European Union that is funding the program by Media Focus on Africa was also present at the launch.

‘No human society is fully developed without women taking the central place. Women need to prepare for power .’ – EU Ambassador Stefano Dejak.

P♀WER 2017

A project combining Radio drama, radio talk shows, Training, community leader’s discussions and college debates on women leadership, with the goal of increasing women representation in elected posts in the 2017 General elections. The project whose official title was “Spotlights on Women Aspirant Leaders at County Level” was implemented together with FIDA Kenya. In particular the focus was Member of County Assembly (MCA) and Governor sit. The project targeted Mombasa, Kajiado, Narok, Nandi, Trans Nzoia, West Pokot, Nyandarua and Kisumu Counties. The project incorporated three strategies: Strategy 1:  Motivating & building the capacity of women to run for the seat of Governor and MCA; Strategy 2:  Creating an enabling media environment for women leadership; and Strategy 3:  Raising awareness on the need for women leadership

Out of a target of 80 women in the counties MFA focused on, 10 were elected. 9 as MCAs and one as Deputy Governor.

MEDIA & COUNTY BUDGETS ACCOUNTABILITY

MFA partnered with The International Budget Partnerships (IBP) to implement a project that involved building the capacity of county based journalists to understand and report effectively on County budgets as well as report on local government spending so as to ensure it is transparent and improving the lives of County residents. Over the course of three years and covering seven counties namely Taita Taveta, Nyandarua, Busia, Kisumu, Narok, Kitui and Baringo, MFA also organized county roundtable discussions intended to bring together players from the county executive, county assembly, civil society organizations, the media and the public to discuss the roles of these players in the county budget process and how they can all work together for the success of the counties. The project was funded by FORD Foundation and The National Endowment for Democracy.

LEADERSHIP CAMPAIGN 2012

In preparation for the 2012 general elections, the 1st election under a new Kenyan Constitution, MFA conducted a Leadership campaign with special attention to Chapter 6 of the Constitution (Leadership and Integrity),  new leadership structures and devolved governments. National leaders, civil society representatives, traditional leaders, as well as ordinary citizens were invited to participate in radio and television programmes to discuss issues that were important to their counties and subsequently the type of leadership required to address these issues.

This campaign resulted in the production of 15 small documentaries with examples of good leadership, 15 community leadership dialogues, 16 talk shows for national television and 80 talk shows for radio.

The Television show dubbed ‘Michakato Majimboni’, a fancy way of saying ‘County Dialogues’ in Kiswahili can be watched here. The Leadership Examples Documentaries can be watched here. 

CROSS-GENERATIONAL DIALOGUES

Before the 2012 elections in Kenya, MFA and Search For Common Grounds (SFCG) organised a series of inter-generational (youth-elderly) and inter-ethnic dialogue sessions in 16 locations across the country. The social dynamics in most African cultures work in a way that the elders decide while the youth implement. But having empowered the youth in the past years, we found it necessary to include the elders in the dialogue sessions and in the process get them to support the youth as they take more direct decision making roles in the communities., more so pertaining to the upcoming elections.

UUNGWANA INITIATIVE CAMPAIGN

The Uungwana Initiave is a values, attitude and behavioral change campaign that is the brainchild of Ken Njiru. The Uungwana Initiative rests on three pillars namely, Jifahamu (or know yourself), Jiweze (take control of yourself) and Jitolee (give yourself to yourself first, then to the community and the world).

MFA assisted in the development of communication strategy for behavioral changes (morals and values) in collaboration with Ken Njiru at no cost. MFA prepared TV infomercials for the Uungwana initiative. Following this strategic imperative, MFA supported the development of messages aimed at encouraging good national norms and social values under the Uungwana Initiative. This initiative was seeking to promote mutual respect in Kenyan society and called on citizens to move from mediocrity. This support was rendered to Uungwana Resource Institute and included supplementing the production costs of Public Service Announcements (PSA’s) on uraia, utu, responsibility, politeness, trustworthiness, courage and justice. These PSAs aired on radio and television.

VOTER MOBILIZATION CAMPAIGN

‘’It’s Your Vote, Your Voice” Voter Mobilization Campaign: Together with Citizens Coalition for Electoral Democracy in Uganda (CCEDU) and supported by Deepening Democrary Programme (DDP), MFA implemented a national media campaign on voter mobilization and sensitization across Uganda, ahead of the country’s 2011 general elections. The project covered two phases of the electoral cycle –Voter Registration and Voter display period. MFA developed messaging during the voter registration period, as well as the voter display campaign periods.

MFA also organised training sessions for talk show hosts, media practitioners and CCEDU members and staff on media skills and influencing the media agenda setting. The media skills trainings were conducted by a team of Channel 4 media trainers and in specific targeting spokespersons of CCEDU member organisations (in specific Uganda Governance Monitoring Platform (UGMP) who were likely to engage with the media in
the months prior to the elections.

THE TEAM: SEASON 1, 2 AND 3

In response to the post-election violence in Kenya in December 2007, Search for Common Ground (SFCG) and Media Focus on Africa (MFA) developed and produced a TV and radio drama, The Team – an episodic series which asks a central question: can Kenyans find ways to put the past behind them in order to have a better future?

It aired on Citizen Television and KBC and ranked in the country’s top-ten. An average of 2,775,000 viewers watched the show every week.  The Team received an award for Best Film in the ‘Human Security’ category on the ‘We the People’ Film Festival in London.

The series presents a microcosm of Kenyan society in which members of a fictional football team, who come from different ethnic groups and social classes, are challenged to overcome their fears and biases so that they can see one another as individuals not as members of “the other.” The central metaphor for the players – and for Kenya – is: If they do not cooperate, they will not score goals, and they will lose. The series sends a strong message that the sins of the past cannot be rectified by retributive violence today.

Season 1: WATCH

Season 2: WATCH

Season 3: WATCH

Apart from the series , a large outreach program was organised in places most affected by the PEV, a DVD with viewer guide, a theme song, and  a website were created.

FIST TO FIVE FOR CHANGE

MFA produced a television talk show on Citizen TV titled ‘Fist to Five for Change’ in response to the PEV and the National Accord that led to the secession of violence in 2008.  19 TV shows of “Fist to Five for Change” were aired reaching more than 2 million people per episode. The television shows were supported by 48 Mobile Cinema screenings in locations mostly affected by the violence and combined with 48 workshops in the same locations which brought together community leaders, police, civil society as well as victims and perpetrators to engage in dialogues sessions with a similar structure/process as the talk shows. The locations were Mathare and Kibera in Nairobi, Naivasha, Nakuru and Eldoret in the Rift Valley Province, Mumias and Kisumu in Western Kenya and Mombasa at the coast.

Participants shared their experiences during the PEV while discussing the root causes of the post election conflict in an effort to find a way forward. During the talk show and the community dialogues sessions, it was emphasized that political reforms were key to solving deep seated root causes of ethnic mistrust and violence.

Watch Fist to Five here. 

Listen to radio broadcasts here.

ELECTIONS MEDIA STRATEGY

Multi-Media Strategy supporting Free and Fair Elections. With the support of the UNDP Elections Assistance Programme and development partners MFA conducted a ‘harmonised and issue-based’ media campaign with specific focus on the 2007 General Election in Kenya between September 19th and December 22nd of 2007.

The aim of this media campaign was to convey objective, unbiased and impartial information via the media on selected and thoroughly researched electoral topics, thus supporting the realisation of increased voter turnout and ‘free and fair elections’.

The campaign promoted the election agenda and gave the public an opportunity to express their views on topical issues that were relevant during this election year such as: equitable allocation of resources; unemployment; ethnicity; security and human rights. Target groups: the population in both urban and rural areas with special focus on the youth, woman and people with disabilities.

Objectives:

  • Develop an issues-based approach to encourage discussion and reflection;
  • Reaching target audiences nationwide utilising national/local media platforms;
  • Supporting free and fair elections as well as increased voter turnout;
  • Unbiased and equitable access of all political parties/candidates to the media.

APPROACH

The media strategy complimented the efforts of several media houses coverage of the elections and civil society organizations that conducted civic education through formal and informal meetings countrywide by providing a forum for discourse in a manner that reinforces these efforts. The strategy was firmly issue based and therefore – implicitly – worked as a civic education program promoting responsible citizen participation in the electoral process.

Thematic issues included: The role of the youth in politics; Women in electoral politics; Enacting a new constitution; Political parties and their respective manifestos; Poverty and inequality and Unemployment; Ethnicity, incitement and hate speeches by the political aspirants; Public service delivery; Resource allocation and the issues around devolved funds; Political accountability; Election Act and Election malpractices; Political campaign financing; Performance of the ECK; Role of the Executive (Provincial administration/Office of the president and Insecurity.

social media

Social Media Feed

Updates from Uganda & Kenya

Facebook Kenya

Media Focus on Africa
Media Focus on Africa4 months ago
On this day, a year ago, we proudly announced Angel Mbuthia as the winner of Ms President. A true embodiment of leadership, grace, and resilience. Her journey continues to inspire us all.

#MsPresident
Media Focus on Africa
Media Focus on Africa4 months ago
Curious to learn about the tangible impact of our #MsPresident program? Dive into the numbers, stories, and lessons learned in our comprehensive new report. Be inspired by the change driven by women leaders!

https://mediafocusonafrica.org/annual-reports/
Media Focus on Africa
Media Focus on Africa4 months ago
Insights From the Recently Concluded Community Dialogues: Over the past few months, a series of impactful community dialogues took place in various counties across Kenya including, Homabay, Kisii, Kericho, Samburu, Embu, Kajiado, and Wajir. Read on below.

https://mediafocusonafrica.org/?news=empowering-communities-insights-from-the-recently-concluded-community-dialogues

#MsPresident

Facebook Uganda

Media Focus on Africa Uganda
Media Focus on Africa Uganda1 week ago
Our training sessions in Hoima went beyond just imparting knowledge – they ignited a movement for media literacy and positive change. Participants emerged as ambassadors, equipped with the tools and understanding to advocate for informed media consumption and combat misinformation in their communities.

Through interactive workshops and engaging discussions, we empowered individuals to critically analyze media content, identify disinformation, and promote responsible media use. By fostering a culture of media literacy, we're not only shaping informed citizens but also building a stronger, more resilient society.

Together, we're catalyzing a shift towards a more media-literate community where individuals are empowered to navigate the complex media landscape confidently. We are here to ensure everyone has the skills and knowledge to engage with media responsibly and contribute to positive change. #MediaLiteracy #CommunityEmpowerment #PositiveChange"
Media Focus on Africa Uganda
Media Focus on Africa Uganda
Media Focus on Africa Uganda1 week ago
Through our dedicated efforts in skilling women journalists and advocating for the integration of a gender lens in storytelling, we're not just challenging stereotypes – we're reshaping narratives. Our trainings go beyond the technicalities of journalism; they instill empathy, promote understanding, and foster inclusivity.

By equipping journalists with the tools to view stories through a gender lens, we're amplifying voices that have long been marginalized. We're creating a media landscape where every perspective is acknowledged, every experience is valued, and every story is told authentically.
Media Focus on Africa Uganda
Media Focus on Africa Uganda1 week ago
Our media literacy training sessions provided a platform for young people to voice their opinions, share their experiences, and engage in meaningful dialogue about the role of media in society. By amplifying youth voices, we're ensuring that diverse perspectives are heard and valued in the digital age.

Media literacy is a cornerstone of informed citizenship and effective leadership. Our training sessions not only imparted practical skills but also fostered critical thinking, creativity, and ethical decision-making among young participants. By investing in media literacy, we're empowering the next generation of leaders to navigate the complexities of the digital world with confidence and integrity.

#YouthEmpowerment
#MediaDialogue
#InclusiveParticipation
Media Focus on Africa Uganda
Media Focus on Africa Uganda3 weeks ago
In an era of fake news and misinformation, media literacy is more important than ever. Our recent training sessions focused on empowering participants, who were mostly youths, to critically evaluate information, discern fact from fiction, and become responsible digital citizens. Together, we're fighting disinformation and promoting media literacy for a more informed society.

Social media platforms have immense potential to drive positive change and amplify important messages. Through our training sessions, we're empowering young people to leverage social media for good causes, from advocating for social justice to promoting positive narratives.

We all need to harness the power of social media for a brighter future.

#SocialMediaForGood #PositiveChange #DigitalActivism
Media Focus on Africa Uganda
Media Focus on Africa Uganda3 weeks ago
At Media Focus on Africa, we're committed to championing gender equality in media. By amplifying women's voices and stories, we're reshaping the media landscape to be more inclusive, diverse, and representative of our society. Through our advocacy efforts, we're challenging stereotypes, breaking down barriers, and paving the way for a more equitable future.

We're empowering women journalists with the knowledge and skills they need to make a difference in their communities and beyond. From multimedia storytelling to digital media literacy, our training programs cover a wide range of topics designed to equip women with the tools they need to succeed in the ever-changing media landscape. Together, we're shaping the future of media. #MediaLiteracy
Media Focus on Africa Uganda
Media Focus on Africa Uganda2 months ago
In 2020, our social media campaign against #GBV took a powerful stance. We also ran talk shows on radio stations. Our aim was to confront the rising cases during the lockdown, making a tangible impact. The impact goes beyond airwaves, sparking change on the ground.

Twitter Kenya

Twitter Uganda