BARAZA MEDIA LAB MARKS FIVE YEARS WITH LAUNCH OF NAIROBI INDUSTRIAL AREA HUB.
BY NJOKI KARANJA
Nairobi, August 29, 2025.
Baraza Media Lab celebrated its fifth anniversary with the official opening of its newest hub in Nairobi’s Industrial Area, signaling a bold expansion of its mission to empower independent media and creative practitioners across Kenya.
Speaking at the twin celebration, Baraza Executive Director Maurice Otieno described the milestone as a testament to the power of collaboration, creativity, and public-interest storytelling.
“This hub is more than just a space—it is a window into a vision where creativity, journalism, and community intersect to spark impact,” Otieno said, adding that Baraza’s work is rooted in strengthening independent voices, generating dignified youth employment, and holding power to account.
Since its founding in 2019, Baraza Media Lab has grown into a dynamic platform for experimentation and community-driven innovation. Flagship initiatives such as She Leads Media, Creative Clinics, SemaBOX—Africa’s largest podcast incubator—and Fumbua, its misinformation-countering program, have nurtured storytellers while confronting pressing challenges facing the media. The Africa Media Festival, launched in 2023, has already become a continental convening point for journalists and creatives.
The new Industrial Area hub, Otieno noted, holds particular significance because it sits in a community of industry and enterprise where many young people are building livelihoods. “By opening a hub here, we are placing Baraza in the middle of Kenya’s productive energy, media savviness, and ambition,” he said.
Baraza’s expansion now includes hubs in Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, and Nairobi’s Industrial Area, reaching more than 5,000 young people in less than five months. These spaces provide mentorship, training, and creative opportunities, decentralizing support away from Nairobi’s traditional media centers.
Yet, challenges remain. Otieno highlighted findings from the 2025 Media Council of Kenya report, which revealed that more than 70% of journalists in the country work on temporary contracts without written agreements. Reliance on advertising revenue, pervasive digital safety threats, and limited investment in emerging fields like AI and data journalism also threaten the sustainability of independent media.
Despite these hurdles, Baraza is positioning itself as a catalyst for innovation. Its upcoming programs include data storytelling fellowships, incubation labs, micro-grants, and continued support for creators navigating the transition from advertising-dependent models to audience-driven business strategies.
The event was attended by dignitaries including Henk Jan Bakker, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Kenya, Maurice Chapot, Film & Media Attaché for East Africa, media personality Adelle Onyango, and members of Baraza’s community and alumni network.
Looking ahead, Otieno emphasized that Baraza’s future lies in partnerships and co-creation. “The future of Baraza will be written not by a single institution but by all of us who care about public interest media, creative expression, and the communities that support them,” he said.
With five years of experimentation and community building behind it, Baraza Media Lab is now setting its sights on scaling impact nationwide—ensuring that the next groundbreaking journalist, podcaster, or civic innovator could emerge from anywhere in Kenya.
