AFC: Bloggers Association of Kenya (BAKE) Awards 2018 winners

Formed in 2011, the Bloggers Association of Kenya (BAKE) is a community association of Kenyan bloggers and content creators that promotes online content creation & free expression in Kenya.

In its history, BAKE has empowered 25,000 Kenyans with digital skills (blogging, Social Media & digital security) in addition to protecting free expression and media freedom through advocacy and litigation.

Since 2012, the BAKE Awards has recognized and awarded exceptional Kenyan bloggers in different categories every year. It is organized by the Bloggers Association of Kenya (BAKE). Previous winners of the awards include Mutua Matheka, Jackson Biko, Sharon Mundia, Wandia Njoya, Magunga Williams and Nancie Mwai. Over 18,000 blogs have been submitted in the competition and over 1 million people have voted.

The Bloggers Association of Kenya (BAKE) is pleased to announce the BAKE Awards 2018 winners who were awarded at a Winners’ Gala Event held last night at the Crowne Plaza Nairobi, Hotel. The Winners’ Gala Event was attended by some of the top Kenyan bloggers and influencers.

The competition began on January 11th 2018, where BAKE Kenya accepted submissions in the various categories for close to one month. Thereafter, a panel of judges selected the best 5 nominees from the successful submissions in each category as well as the best top 5 for the Kenyan Blog of the year. This was followed by the public voting phase which closed on May 7th 2018.

This year, the new categories added are Best Environment Blog, Best Beauty and Hair Blog and Best Video Blog (Vlog). The total number of categories being 23 in 2018.

Among the winners were first timers like Bonnita Aluoch (aluochbonnita.com) , Elizabeth Wanjiru (lizmazingira.com), Luke Mulunda (www.businesstoday.co.ke), Over Twenty Five YouTube Channel and Tabitha Tongoi (cravingyellow.com). Women continued to impress at the awards with a record 15 awards going to them. Tatiana Karanja (tatianakaranja.com) made history by being the first woman to ever win in the photography category.

Kennedy Kachwanya, chairman at BAKE said, “While the digital landscape has largely remained free & fair, there has been challenges especially from the state and powerful people, that has seen many bloggers and internet users arrested and charged. We have remained at the forefront of protecting this space through policy, advocacy, and when called upon, litigation.”

Jane Muthoni, the General Manager at BAKE payed homage to all the women who create content online. She added, “these awesome women have to sometimes overcome various challenges including discrimination, the patriarchy and cyber-bullying to create content.”

Among the Sponsors this year were Microsoft, EatOut Kenya, Nomad Magazine, National Youth Council, CDI Gadgets, Xpose, Media Pal and the Ministry of Environment and Forestry.

Here is the complete list of winners in the BAKE Awards 2018.