RAISE YOUR VOICE SO THAT THOSE WITHOUT CAN BE HEARD

Globally, women and girls continue to hold unrealized potential, as the wheels of change in women's empowerment turn rather slowly. Yet women’s equal participation and leadership in political and public life are essential. 

 

Woman Kenya Network was founded in 2017 to amplify the voices of women using the media as a tool of gender equality. The network ensures that women’s voices are heard, their concerns addressed and their contribution to democracy maximized. 

 

Woman Kenya Network is hailed for introducing Top 20 Most Influential Women in Kenya, an annual award scheme that seeks to celebrate impactful women from different spheres of society.

 

Our Mission: To be the trusted voice of women empowerment and gender equality.

Our Vision: We imagine a world where there is an enabling environment to support women to achieve their full potential.

 

CORE VALUES

§  Equality

§  Inclusivity and diversity

§  Integrity

§  Courage

§  Innovation

 

 

OBJECTIVES

§  Promote Inclusivity of women

§  Promote just portrayal of women using the media

§  Amplify successes of women

 

Inclusivity

§  Representation: According to studies, 1 out of 4 people heard or read about in news (print, radio, TV) are women. This translates to about 24 per cent as per the Global Monitoring Report of 2015, like 2010 survey results. 

§  Only 37 percent of stories in newspapers, television and radio newscasts are reported by women. This overall statistic has not changed in 10 years.

§  Women are the focus of only 10 percent of news stories. Women comprise just 20 percent of experts or people interviewed in the media.

§  With about 3 billion consumers of social media, there is a 12 per cent gender gap on internet users.

§  Only 26 per cent of the people in Internet news stories and media news Tweets combined are women.

 

Portrayal 

§  Women are the focus of only 10 percent of news stories which; to paraphrase the late Nobel Laureate Prof Wangari Maathai, centre below the belt, and rarely above the neck.  

§  In stories on crime, violence or disaster, pictures of women are frequently employed for dramatic effect. The female image is regularly used to generate pathos or emotion, or to titillate the audience.

§  When women make the news it is primarily as celebrities or as ordinary people.

§  On television, female media professionals disappear from the screen as they get older. For women in the profession, a youthful appearance is more highly valued than experience.

Gendered stories

§  Coverage of stories is not about our pains, struggles, sacrifices and achievements but highlights our weaknesses.

§  News on gender (in)equality is almost non-existent. Only 4 percent of stories highlight equality issues. Stories with a gender equality angle are almost completely absent from the major news topics of politics (3 percent) and the economy (1 percent).
There is not a single major news topic in which women outnumber men as newsmakers. Except for two occupational categories - homemaker (75 per cent) and student (51 per cent).

§  Women's points of view are rarely heard in the topics that dominate the news agenda - politics and the economy. Yet these are the topics that dominate the news agenda in all countries.

§  In stories on politics and government only 14 percent of news subjects are women; and in economic and business news only 20 per cent.

§  Even in stories that affect women profoundly, such as gender-based violence, the male voice prevails at 64 percent of news subjects.

 

WOMAN KENYA NETWORK SEEKS TO:

§  Use the powerful tool of media to change rigid stereotypes and empower both men and women. 

§  The long-term change in women’s images in the media could help change the perceptions and stereotypes women face in a society.

§  If we want to see progress towards women’s equal participation of women in key decision-making roles, involve women in politics and economy. 

§  Provide female role models: Showcase more women as leaders. 

§  Put gender on everyone’s agenda because we in the media have the power to influence private and public decisions, especially when promoting pertinent issues such as gender equality. 

§  Create a database of female expertise for the organization.

§  Spark policy creation, funding and social impact and justice among various communities.

 

VALUE OF PROMOTING WOMEN EMPOWERMENT AND GENDER EQUALITY

§  The 2010 constitution of Kenya provides a threshold of 2/3 Gender Representation.  It also guarantees equality and freedom for all from discrimination including the right to equal opportunities in political, economic, cultural, and social spheres.

§  Diversity and inclusion is a core priority of driving business results. It is good for business. Research by non-profit organization Catalyst found companies that reported the highest number of women in senior leadership roles financially outperformed those with lower rates of women, with a 35 per cent higher return on equity.

§  Beyond the moral imperative it makes good business sense.  High levels of diversity and inclusion are associated with greater productivity, innovation and wellbeing.  On the contrary, inequalities lead to inappropriate solutions and inadequate allocation of resources. 

WHAT WE DO

 

CONTENT CREATION

Documentaries, publishing for print, digital, broadcast content

 

Her Standards

Her Standards Talk Show produces high-impact gender stories, highlights success stories and sparks thoughtful conversations. The show focuses on women trailblazers who are making an impact in their communities. These women include Change Makers, Decision – makers and News breakers. KTN Home is part of The Standard Group PLC, a multi-media organization with investments in media platforms spanning newspaper print operations, television, radio broadcasting, digital and online services. KTN Home enjoys a national footprint and world-class standards of programming. The show rating stands at an average viewership of 1 million viewers per episode.

 

EVENTS & CONFERENCES

Top 20 Most Influential Women in Kenya

 An annual award scheme that seeks to celebrate impactful women from different spheres of society.

 

Women in Leadership Circle

 A social network designed for today’s ambitious woman who wants to level up and build meaningful networks. 

 

PROJECTS

Standard Group Women Network (SGWN)

SGWN is a unique gender-transformative non-profit membership network that seeks to articulate the voice of women at the workplace and position them for greater impact in society. 

 

Women You Should Know

TV Programme/ book profiling female role models.

 

End period poverty and shame

This is a sanitary Pads Campaign which aims to give equal opportunity for school girls to education, ending Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, terminating child marriage and consequently building a bright future for women and girls in Kenya.

 

MEDIA LITERACY AND TRAINING

§  The Media Council of Kenya: Responsible Election Reporting

§  URAIA Trust: Women Leadership Academy

§  Journalists for Human Rights: Female Political Aspirants Media Engagement Training 

§  Article 19 Kenya and East Africa: Gender equality, safety and protection for community media organizations Aspirants Media Engagement Training

 

WAYS YOU CAN PARTNER WITH US

There are great opportunities and possibilities to be a partner with us to amplify the voices of women in society. In echoing the words of UN Secretary General UN António Guterres’, women empowerment is the unfinished business of our time, and the greatest human rights challenge in our world today.  Your participation will make Woman Kenya Network initiatives successful. 

§  Sponsor a programme on Her Standards Talk Show on KTN Home. Media package is available here

§  Sponsor our annual Top 20 Most Women Influential Awards. Sponsorship package available here. 

§  Donate to our CRS Project which aims to end period poverty and shame in Kenya by 2025.

§  Join Women in Leadership Circle. 

§  Organize or sponsor a forum, workshop, seminar at Woman Kenya Network events and media programmes

§  Sponsor-selected or nominated delegates for Woman Kenya Network events and media programmes.

§  Actively contribute toward legislation and policy creation on gender equality, affirmative action and protection of rule of law.

§  Uphold gender equality principles at home, work and in the society

 

MEET THE TEAM

QUEENTER MBORI: CEO, FOUNDER & CREATIVE DIRECTOR

My name is Queenter Mbori but my friends call me Queen.  I am the CEO and Publisher of Woman Kenya. I am also a seasoned editor, gender equality advocate and acclaimed speaker. I also host a lifestyle show on KTN Home called Her Standards, every Saturday from 4PM.