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NAIROBI, Kenya (TAV) — The Africana Voice editor Steve Mokaya has won the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists’ (IFAJ) Star Prize for Audio. The award recognizes his powerful storytelling about resilience and innovation among Maasai women in Kenya.
A Dedicated Storyteller
Mokaya, 27, who is pursuing a master’s degree in journalism in Germany, did not attend the award ceremony in Nairobi. He learned of his victory in the most unexpected way.
“The news caught me completely off guard,” he said. “I was on my way home from school when a LinkedIn notification popped up, and boom, it was the news that I’d won the IFAJ Star Prize. I almost missed my bus stop. It’s such a good feeling, especially because this now makes it my fourth journalism award. So yes, I feel accomplished to some degree, and maybe carrying a small aura of excellence around me now,” he joked.
His winning podcast, “How Maasai Women Are Countering Drought With Beekeeping,” aired on The Standard Podcast. It tells the story of Maasai women in Kajiado County who are turning drought into opportunity through beekeeping cooperatives.
“That story came through a friend who tipped me off about these Maasai women running beekeeping groups,” Mokaya said. “I was blown away. They were transforming something devastating into a source of income and hope. I spent four days in Kajiado documenting their work, and it showed me how much innovation and resilience exist in communities that are rarely heard from.”
Judges described his piece as capturing “a profound shift in pastoral culture.” IFAJ Secretary-General Adrian Bell praised it for “focusing on the vulnerability and resilience of rural women.”
British journalist Anna Jones of BBC Radio 4 was named runner-up for her “Battle Grounds: Culture Wars in the Countryside (Vegans)” broadcast.
A Prolific Multimedia Journalist
Mokaya’s win adds to a growing list of accomplishments in his media career. Over the years, he has proven himself to be a prolific multimedia journalist who moves easily between audio, print, and digital storytelling.
He has produced several acclaimed podcasts for The Africana Voice that explore governance, African identity, and social change. His most recent work, released after the death of Kenya’s former Prime Minister on October 15, 2025, examined the leader’s complex legacy and influence on the country’s politics.
This is not the first journalism award for Mokaya. He has earned multiple honors recognizing his excellence in storytelling and innovation. He won the ICT and Innovation Reporting Award (Print Category) at the Annual Journalism Excellence Awards (AJEA) 2023, followed by the Podcast of the Year Award at the AJEA 2024. In 2025, he received the first runner-up Podcast of the Year Award, also from AJEA, an annual program organized by the Media Council of Kenya. Earlier in his career, Mokaya was named first runner-up in the Environmental Young Journalist of the Year Award (2021), a competition for emerging science journalists from Southern African nations.
Beyond podcasting, Mokaya has conducted interviews with leading figures, including former U.S. Vice President Al Gore, a renowned climate change advocate, during a Climate Summit in Nairobi. The event was also attended by Wanjira Mathai, daughter of the late Nobel laureate Wangari Maathai. He has also interviewed prominent Kenyan politicians, including Okiyah Omtatah, Gathoni Wamuchomba, Jeremiah Kioni, and Richard Onyonka.
Many of Mokaya’s podcasts and interviews are available on The Africana Voice’s YouTube channel, where the newsroom regularly features in-depth audio and video stories on African innovation, governance, and leadership.
Mokaya said he believes that African journalism should focus on stories that celebrate progress and possibility.
“African journalism should tell more success stories, not just struggles,” he said. “When people see stories of hope and innovation, especially from women who are often sidelined, it inspires others. The solutions we need are already here, in our own communities.”
He added that African journalists are helping to reshape how the world views the continent.
“For a long time, others have told our stories from a distance,” he said. “But things are changing. We are now meeting real people and letting their experiences speak. Even stories about climate change can show adaptation and creativity. That is how we change how the world sees Africa — as a place full of ideas and innovation.”
A Moment of Pride for The Africana Voice
Maurice Ndole, publisher of The Africana Voice, said Mokaya’s recognition is a proud moment for the newsroom and for African journalism.
“I’m incredibly proud of Steve,” Ndole said. “Since joining our team, he has played a key role in professionalizing our platform and raising our editorial standards. He has an instinct for stories that inform, inspire, and make a real difference in people’s lives.”
The IFAJ’s Star Prize program, sponsored by Alliance Farm Tires, honors excellence in agricultural journalism across print, digital, and broadcast categories. Judges for the audio category were led by Leigh Radford of Australia. Winning entries are available at www.ifaj.org.
Mokaya’s award reflects the growing influence of African journalists who tell authentic stories that connect local realities with global audiences. It also celebrates The Africana Voice’s mission to nurture storytelling that uplifts communities and highlights the continent’s creativity.
Readers can explore Mokaya’s award-winning podcast and other multimedia stories by The Africana Voice at our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@AfricanaVoice
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