Steve Mokaya Wins IGAD Media Award for Maasai Women Beekeeping Podcast

He has done it again.

Steve Mokaya, editor at The Africana Voice, has won the Radio category of the 2025 IGAD Media Awards for his podcast on Maasai women who use beekeeping to fight drought. The award marks another milestone in his career and strengthens his influence as one of East Africa’s rising multimedia journalists.

“A superstar in journalism,” is how Africana Voice publisher Maurice Ndole described him.

“He has done a lot for The Africana Voice. This award shows the quality of his work. I cannot wait to see what the future holds for him,” Ndole said.

The win is the second international honor for the same story. The International Federation of Agricultural Journalists awarded him the IFAJ Star Prize for Audio earlier this year. Judges praised his focus on resilience, innovation, and women-led climate solutions.

Mokaya said the award was a huge honor.

“I thank IGAD for honoring me with this award, it’s the biggest recognition I have ever recieved for my journalism and it inspires me to continue highlighting unique stories like this one,” Mokaya said.

A storyteller with a record of excellence

Mokaya is known for capturing complex issues through transparent, people-centered reporting. His award-winning podcast, recorded in Kajiado County, followed Maasai women who formed beekeeping groups after years of drought and livestock losses. They built hives, harvested honey, and created new income streams in some of Kenya’s driest regions.

He said the idea came from a friend who tipped him off about the cooperative. He spent four days in Kajiado documenting the work. The experience reinforced his belief that African communities hold many of the answers to the climate challenges they face.

His previous honors include several awards from the Annual Journalism Excellence Awards in Kenya. He has been recognized for ICT and innovation reporting, podcast production, and environmental journalism. He has interviewed global and national figures, including Al Gore, Wanjira Maathai, and several Kenyan legislators.

Why IGAD recognized the story

The IGAD Media Awards highlight journalism that advances climate awareness in the IGAD region. Member states are Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, and Uganda. These countries face frequent droughts and food insecurity.

The theme of this year’s awards was “Storytelling for Climate Action.”

Mokaya’s work aligned with the theme by showing how women lead local climate solutions.

A prolific voice within The Africana Voice

Mokaya plays a central role in strengthening The Africana Voice’s editorial work. His reporting covers governance, identity, climate change, and leadership.

His recent coverage of the death of former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga was widely noted for its depth and clarity.

Ndole said Mokaya brings discipline, creativity, and purpose to the newsroom. He added that Mokaya consistently produces stories that inform and inspire.

The ceremony he was prevented from attending

The IGAD Media Awards ceremony took place in Addis Ababa on December 30. Presenters told the audience that Mokaya “unfortunately could not make it,” suggesting that he chose not to attend.

The truth is different.

Mokaya was ready to be there. He missed the ceremony only because organizers told him at the last minute that they would not fund his travel from Germany. They said the decision was due to his residence in a non-IGAD country. He learned this only after requesting updates. The short notice made it impossible for him or The Africana Voice to arrange alternative travel.

He reached out to senior IGAD officials for help. They did not respond. Meanwhile, the event funded travel for several people who were not competing for awards.

Ndole said he was disappointed with how the organizers handled Mokaya’s travel arrangement.

“IGAD is a well-respected organization, but they dropped the ball on this one,” Ndole said. “They could have informed Mokaya sooner or reached out to The Africana Voice and worked out something. This is an experience of a lifetime and the moment was stolen from him because of poor planning.”

The decision denied him the honor of receiving his award in person. His work, however, continues to stand on its own.