By Lucy Mwangi
Each Wednesday, the airwaves on Kameme FM are filled with profound cultural reflections, political commentaries and spirited debate touching on cultural, political and social issues in the show Mbaratha, hosted by the seasoned journalist Gatonye wa Mbugua. Known for its excellent record of dissecting current affairs, Mbaratha has won a space in Kenya’s media landscape as a uniquely vernacular platform that cracks open national issues through Kikuyu lenses.
The show typically has an all-male panel (what people call in media criticism circles as a manel) of three to four analysts. Week after week, this male-dominated team tackles the country’s most pressing issues, including governance and policy shifts, corruption scandals, economic issues, and cultural dynamics. Their conversations are engaging, their analysis rich, and their command of language magnetic. However, despite all its strengths, Mbaratha has one glaring shortcoming: the show has never featured a woman in the panel.
Diversity of voices in the media is non-negotiable. The Code of Conduct for Media Practice obligates media to accord equitable treatment to all persons as news subjects or sources. The media shall not deliberately exclude any group from news coverage, and shall take into account cultural and contextual differences in the representation and treatment of persons in media content.
There is no denying that Mbaratha is one of the most influential shows in the national dialogue on Kameme FM. Gatonye wa Mbugua, respected for his decades of experience in radio journalism, steers the discussions with a steady hand and cultural fluency. The panelists, though always male, are credited with their fearless commentary on governance, their capacity to relate national developments to local realities, and their flair in telling stories in Gikuyu.
To most listeners in Central Kenya and even in the diaspora, Mbaratha now has become their go-to space to unravel the more complex issues in a manner that makes them relatable and culturally anchored. Snippets from the show often go viral on social media, sparking further public conversations.
Despite its influence and intellectual rigour, the fact that it has never had a female panellist exemplifies a bigger problem in media, where the Fourth Estate is not taking initiative to be inclusive in terms of bringing female voices on board.
Although some major stations have progressed to make their stations gender-inclusive, vernacular radio tends to lag behind, often replicating the patriarchal norms of the societies they represent.
Women bring unique perspectives to public discourse. From health and education to economic survival and social cohesion issues, women experience national issues differently and can add value to the discussions. Their inclusion is not merely about checking boxes but making the analysis even more reflective of the whole society.
The fact that women have always been excluded in Mbaratha begs the following questions: Do women not receive invitations or are there systemic barriers at play?
In many cases, the answer lies in both. Women, particularly in the vernacular media, face additional barriers to participation. These include gendered stereotypes, fewer opportunities to speak in the public, limited mentorship, and the balancing act of professional and domestic roles. There may also be a perception that political and national affairs are “men’s conversations,” especially when they are discussed in indigenous languages, tied to cultural authority.
These setbacks are not insurmountable. What’s missing is the intentional effort to break the cycle. Lack of women voices in the media is not a women’s problem, it is a production problem.
In leaving women out, Mbaratha risks narrowing its lens and alienating a significant portion of its listeners. It also fails to provide a good example of a participatory civic discourse that Kenya aspires to.
There is no shortage of competent, articulate women, who can speak fluently in Gikuyu and who can be logical in analysing national affairs. From university lecturers and policy intellectuals to community leaders, journalists, and political theorists, Kenya’s bench of female talent is deep.
Kameme FM should find it prudent to recognise the issue of representation and make concerted efforts toward gender inclusivity. This may start with an extended reach to their guests to ensure that qualified women are considered and invited to take part in panel discussions. With a clear editorial commitment to diversity, Mbaratha has the potential of becoming a more balanced and powerful platform, that resonates even more deeply with its wide audience.
