AMWIK Ushers in New Era with Fresh Leadership and Bold Vision

By Ivan Lucy -  In a defining moment for Kenya’s media landscape, the Association of Media Women in Kenya (AMWIK) held its Annual General Meeting on June 28 at Nairobi’s Meridian Hotel. 

The occasion: unveiling a new Board of Directors and a Board of Trustees for the 2025–2027 term, a fresh team set to steer the organization into its next phase of growth and gender advocacy in the media space.

Leading this new chapter is Robi Koki Ochieng, who was elected Chairperson. A seasoned media professional known for her commitment to public interest journalism, Koki steps into the role with a promise of servant leadership. 

She will be deputized by Elizabeth Limagur, with a dynamic team that includes investigative journalist Mary Mwendwa, senior journalist Nancy Agutu, public relations expert Clara Micheni, and communications strategist Lynn Nzambi.

Joining them in an advisory role is a distinguished Board of Trustees: media scholar Ann Anjao, strategic communicator Mercy Wairimu Maina, and environmental health journalist Victoria Musimbi.

“This leadership will be rooted in service,” Koki said in her inaugural speech. “Together with my team, we’ll work to bring AMWIK’s vision to life.”

Her words were met with optimism as the association bid farewell to a successful outgoing team led by Dr. Jane Thuo, who served as Chairperson from 2021. Dr. Thuo’s tenure is widely credited for steering AMWIK through turbulent times, I most notably, the financial uncertainty that followed the COVID-19 pandemic.

“When we took office in 2021, AMWIK was facing serious financial challenges,” Dr. Thuo recalled. “We even lost some of our donors. But through collaboration, teamwork, and bold reforms, we increased our funding by 260%.”

The numbers tell a compelling story. From a modest KSh 17 million budget in 2021, AMWIK grew to a whopping KSh 90 million by 2024. Dr. Thuo attributed the growth to expanded donor partnerships, strategic reforms, and key investments, including acquiring shares in Safaricom.

Outgoing treasurer Venter Nkatha echoed these gains in her financial report.

“In 2021, we had KSh 17 million in grants and just KSh 570,000 in membership fees. By 2023, membership fees had more than doubled to KSh 1.2 million, while grants surged to KSh 37.4 million,” she reported, reflecting regained donor confidence and improved member engagement.

As AMWIK marks 43 years of championing gender equity in media, this latest leadership transition is more than symbolic, it’s a continuation of a legacy. 

For decades, AMWIK has deliberately placed women at the helm of leadership, nurturing a generation of media professionals who are now newsroom managers, editors, and policy influencers.

Beyond the boardroom, these leadership opportunities have sharpened skills, driven innovation in storytelling, and reshaped narratives around gender and media in Kenya.

Looking ahead, the new board has its work cut out. Dr. Thuo challenged the incoming team to invest in permanent office space and roll out value-driven initiatives that serve the growing membership.

But if the past is anything to go by, AMWIK is more than ready.

With a legacy built on advocacy, mentorship, and empowerment, the Association continues to be a beacon for women in media. 

And as a new era dawns, the mission remains unchanged: to amplify women’s voices, champion gender equality, and build sustainable networks that will shape the future of journalism in Kenya and beyond.