MS PRESIDENT: SEASON 2

After successfully producing and airing Ms President Season 1, Media Focus on Africa launched a bigger and better Season 2. The second season had 20 episodes series and was aired on both television and 5 local radio stations to ensure maximum reach and engagement with the community.

What is Ms. President?

Ms President is an entertaining, educating, and thought-provoking Reality TV show that seeks to portray to a national audience the capacity and ability of women to lead effectively. The objective of Ms President is to change Kenyans’ perception and attitude towards leadership by women in communities and in the country. Learn more about Season 1 here.

Why is Ms President important? 

Women are usually not found in leadership positions. In many of our communities in Kenya, they are not generally perceived to have the skills, knowledge, or social status needed to bring about meaningful change.

Kenya’s constitution provides for equality in representation between men and women. However, in political leadership, women are significantly underrepresented. Following the 2017 election, female MPs make up only 22% of the National Assembly, 31% of the Senate and only 6% of the Governors.

Ms President Season 2 has contributed to Enhancing Women’s Participation in Political Leadership and Decision Making in Kenya via a multi-media program complemented with community dialogue and capacity strengthening for key stakeholder groups. Coming in the backdrop of the 2022 election made Ms President Season 2 relevant and timely. Through the TV series, Ms President 1 introduced to the national audience young, fresh, intelligent and ‘presidential’ women from across the country many of these women have thrown their hats into the ring and are seeking various elective seats during the 2022 general election. Others have been appointed into senior public service positions e.g. CAS Nadia Abdalla of the Ministry of ICT and Youth.

Just like with Ms President Season 1, the centrepiece of Season 2 was the reality TV series. Ms President 2 that introduced to the national audience another crop of intelligent, articulate and ‘presidential’ women from diverse backgrounds with an eye on the 2027 general election and for appointment to senior public service positions.

The Impact of Season 1 and 2

Ms President Season 1 and 2 have had a significant impact on the political participation of women in Kenya. The show has encouraged young women to take an interest in politics and consider leadership positions as a viable career path. It has also promoted the importance of gender equality and women’s rights, challenging the traditional patriarchal system that dominates politics in Kenya.

Through the show, women from all walks of life have been given a platform to express their opinions, share their stories and showcase their leadership skills. This has not only helped to increase the visibility of women in politics but has also challenged the stereotypes and biases that have limited women’s participation in politics.

55% of the contestants reporting that the show has provided them with leadership opportunities that were previously unavailable to them. Nadia Abdalla, Mombasa County contestant, was appointed as Chief Administrative Secretary in the Ministry of ICT and Youth, while Betty Adera, Nairobi County contestant, is now President of KANU Political Party Women Congress, a member of the One Kenya Alliance (OKA) technical team, and Patron of the Young Women’s Forum in Africa by the Africa Youth Trust. Linet Mavu, Taita Taveta contestant, was appointed by the President to the Intergovernmental Relations Technical Committee. Additionally, many Season 1 contestants are currently running for various MP and MCA positions.

The program received endorsements from various top government officials and international dignitaries, including the President of Kenya H.E. Uhuru Kenyatta. The show was even nominated for the best TV documentary/TV show/TV reality category of the 9th Edition of the Kalasha International Film and TV awards in 2019. The program was also awarded the Best Women Empowerment Initiative at the DIAR Awards 2023.

UGANDA MEDIA WEEK 2020

The 2020 Media Dialogues lasted a period of 7 days and included open discussions on ‘Scientific General Elections – Key issues for journalists’ followed with training sessions on: ‘Fake news and disinformation in times of elections – Fact Checking and verification’ and ‘Upholding independent journalism in scientific elections – principles of effective elections reporting’ held on Monday 7th September, 2020, in Gulu district. Over 30 participants attended.

 

MS PRESIDENT: SEASON 1

Ms President was an entertaining, educating and thought provoking Reality TV show that sough to portray to a national audience the capacity and ability of women to lead effectively. Through a series of tasks and challenges, contestants (all female) displayed their leadership capacity and ability on National TV. The series showcased intelligent and articulate women who are “Presidential” with the aim of increasing the chances of women in Kenya taking up leadership positions.

26 episodes of the Ms President TV show were produced and aired attracting average weekly viewership of 3.5 million. Episode 25 (the Presidential debate) attracted the highest viewership of 5,246,000 million and episode 26 (the finale) attracted the second highest viewership of 4,077, 000 million.

The President of Kenya H.E. Uhuru Kenyatta endorsed the programme. It also recorded commendation / endorsement from among other top government officials, Chief Administrative Secretary in the ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Hon Ababu Namwamba who participated in episode 22 of the show. Others were Supreme Court Judge Hon Justice Njoki Ndungu, Chief Administrative Secretary in the Ministry of Public Service and Gender Hon Racheal Shebesh, the then Principal Secretary in charge of Gender at the ministry of Public Service and Gender Hon Safina Kwekwe, various Governors including the Governors of Nairobi and Garissa and several Members of the National Assembly and Senate plus other stellar leaders in the country.

The Ms President TV show attracted wide media coverage locally and internationally. There are at least 122 articles, news stories, features and OPEDs on Ms President on newspaper, TV and online platforms of leading local and international news organizations. Most of the coverage was balanced, fair and objective and did not perpetuate gender stereotypes often characterizing media coverage of women. Some good examples can be read below;

TV show proves women’s desire to vie for Presidency- Joan Thatiah Saturday Nation 10th August 2019

Of Ms President and the demand for emancipation- Prof Austin Bukenya Saturday Nation 17th August 2019

African Women are redefining leadership- Stephen Ndegwa People Daily August 8th 2019

The Ms President TV show was nominated under the best TV documentary/TV show/TV reality category of the 9th Edition of the Kalasha International Film and TV awards 2019.

All episodes of the TV show can be watched here.

ONE MINUTE PROJECT -WESTNILE

The One-minute aimed at empowering youths in refugee settlements as well as their counterparts in the host communities  with skills and knowledge in film production, media and communication.  The skills will  prepare refugee youths and  youths in host communities to be able to tell their own stories and stand out  beyond the narratives that are often presented in the media.

To enable this move, the youths were given resources to help with their learning and also produce their own films. These included Ipads configured with video editing software. With these, the youths can record and edit video and audio footage. These Ipads, among other resources, will be left available to the youths even after the project is over, such that they can carry on producing films to express themselves and tell their stories to the world.

Project One-minute is funded by Creative-Force-Swedish Institute, a Swedish agency engaging other countries in information, culture, public life among others, and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency working on behalf of the Swedish parliament and government to reduce poverty in the world. Project One-minute is facilitated by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency.

social media

Social Media Feed

Updates from Uganda & Kenya

Facebook Kenya

Media Focus on Africa
Media Focus on Africa3 weeks 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 Africa3 weeks 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 Africa3 weeks 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 Uganda5 days ago
📢 Breaking the Silence! Jan Ajwang, our team leader, takes the stage at AWiM23 to discuss "Policies and strategies against gender-based violence in media organizations." Join us in the conversation as we work towards responsible reporting and a media landscape free from GBV. #AWiM23 #MediaEmpowerment #EndGBV
Media Focus on Africa Uganda
Media Focus on Africa Uganda6 days ago
Empowering women starts with giving them a voice. MFA is using media to amplify the voices of female journalists, breaking the silence on gender-based violence.

#EndGBV #16DaysOfActivism
Media Focus on Africa Uganda
Media Focus on Africa Uganda6 days ago
Online Gender Based violence against women means that women don't have the liberty to enjoy the benefits of the internet. As a media house, journalist, editor, - what are you doing t make online spaces safe for women in Media?
#16daysofactivism
Media Focus on Africa Uganda
Media Focus on Africa Uganda3 weeks ago
🎉 Celebrating 5 Years of Media Brilliance at Uganda Media Week! 🎉
As the curtains fall on the 5th edition of Uganda Media Week, it's not just an event's culmination but a reflection on an incredible five-year journey of shaping the media landscape. From its humble inception to the resounding success of this year's conference, Uganda Media Week has evolved into a powerhouse of knowledge, collaboration, and innovation.

🌟 A Journey of Excellence: Five years ago (In 2019), we embarked on a mission – to create a platform where media professionals, thought leaders and enthusiasts could converge, share insights, and chart the course for the future of journalism. What unfolded exceeded our wildest expectations. Each edition has been a unique tapestry of conversations, learnings, and collaborations that have pushed the boundaries of media excellence.

🙏 Gratitude to All Contributors: To the speakers who've graced our stages, your wisdom has been the guiding light illuminating the path of our discussions. To the attendees, your enthusiasm and engagement have breathed life into every session. A heartfelt thank you to our sponsors and partners whose unwavering support has been the bedrock of our success.

🚀 Looking Back, Looking Forward: As we celebrate the past, we also cast our eyes forward. The next five years hold immense promise and potential. We're committed to furthering our impact, pushing the boundaries of media, journalism and innovation, and elevating the voices that matter. The future of journalism is an open narrative, waiting to be written, and we're excited to script it together.

🎤 Join the Movement: Uganda Media Week is not just an event; it's a movement, a community of passionate individuals united by a common purpose – to redefine the narrative of media. As we embark on the journey ahead, we invite you to be a part of this exciting chapter. Your voice, your insights, and your stories are integral to the ongoing evolution of media excellence.

🥂 Here's to Five Years of Media Excellence, and to Many More! 🌐 #journalism #MediaMattersUG #UgandaMediaWeek
Media Focus on Africa Uganda
Media Focus on Africa Uganda3 weeks ago
Reflecting on the success of Uganda Media Week 2023 fills us with immense gratitude. Our exceptional speakers, engaged participants, and dedicated sponsors have collectively elevated the discourse on media excellence. I extend my heartfelt thanks to each person who contributed to this transformative event. Your passion and commitment have set a new standard for what's achievable in the realm of media. Let's continue to push boundaries and shape the future of journalism together. #MediaMattersUG

JamiiForums - DW Akademie - HRNJ-Uganda - Pollicy
Media Focus on Africa Uganda
Media Focus on Africa Uganda4 weeks ago
⏳ Time's ticking! Its tommorow!🌟
Media houses, schools, #media owners, public servants and other key stakeholders in the media will be in one place -discussing "Public Interest, Ai & the Future of Journalism" at the #UgandaMediaWeek2023 conference.
.
.
#MediaMattersUG

Twitter Kenya

Twitter Uganda