Colonization or growth? You decide… What is certain is that it’s an exciting time for media in Kenya and the whole of Africa after the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) today launched the largest bureau outside the UK in Nairobi.
Currently, close to 300 of the 600 BBC journalists working across Africa are based in the new, state-of-the-art facility here in Nairobi.
“Our most important investment will be in training the next generation of African reporters and producers to world-class standards,” said Francesca Unsworth, Director of BBC News.
We're not just launching our new bureau. These are some of the spanking new programs for the African, and younger, audiences #MeetBBCEastAfrica pic.twitter.com/2A0wRrjCoi
— FERDINAND OMONDI (@FerdyOmondi) November 5, 2018
Nairobi now hosts the largest BBC bureau in the world outside the UK. It is also home to the first BBC TV show to broadcast everyday from Africa #BBCMoneyDaily. Both launch tomorrow #MeetBBCEastAfrica pic.twitter.com/JULtGR7KCk
— Larry Madowo (@LarryMadowo) November 4, 2018
By moving @BBCAfrica HQ to Nairobi @BBCNews shows the best way to survive in the media game is to go where conversations are happening rather than trying to bring the conversation to you. Now for the sheng website. #MeetBBCEastAfrica #bbcsheng pic.twitter.com/v2TSaOnXJU
— Daudi Were (@dkwere) November 5, 2018
According to Deputy President William Ruto, “the BBC is at home here with more than 100 British companies doing business in Kenya; ensuring that the UK remains the largest investor in our country. This is good for the economy, our people and the media industry.”
The BBC is at home here with more than 100 British companies doing business in Kenya; ensuring that the UK remains the largest investor in our country. This is good for the economy, our people and the media industry. #MeetBBCEastAfrica
— William Samoei Ruto, PhD (@WilliamsRuto) November 5, 2018
The BBC World Service opened its Nairobi bureau in 1998 but now broadcasts in a total of 12 African languages plus English. The production facilities at the bureau include a TV studio and two further live broadcast positions, two radio studios, two radio workspaces and five TV edit suites, an expansion is being funded by $376m (£289m) from the UK government.
“We are celebrating the African journalists and programme makers here today who will carry the torch of BBC professionalism, accuracy and impartiality into the future,” Rachael Akidi Okwir, Head of East Africa Languages for the BBC World Service said.
“The facility we open today is the BBC’s largest hub outside the UK, with capacity to serve diverse audiences over a far-flung constituency with information, education and entertainment of the highest quality through multiple platforms,” said Deputy President William Ruto.
Do you watch any BBC programs and which is your favourite?