We are proud to introduce the judges for the BAKE Awards 2025, a powerful group of experts chosen to find the best of Kenyan digital content. This panel brings together a unique blend of skills from the worlds of writing, media, academia, and business strategy, ensuring a fair and comprehensive evaluation.
Together, these judges represent the high standards of excellence and diversity that the BAKE Awards celebrates.
Meet the judges
1. Abigail Arunga: A highly successful writer, author, and scriptwriter for TV shows like Pepeta. She is passionate about art, pop culture, and social justice, bringing a sharp, creative focus to the panel.
2. Martin Mburu: A published author with over 17 years of experience teaching English and writing at the university level. His deep knowledge of literary quality and communication will be key to judging written content.
3. Leo Mutisya: An expert in media policy and governance who works for the Media Council of Kenya. He will evaluate content based on its civic relevance, ethics, and policy issues.
4. Ahmad Salim: A leading Creative Strategist who has built brands across East Africa for over 15 years. His expertise will be used to assess innovation, audience connection, and purposeful creativity.
5. Cecilia Maundu: A leading broadcast journalist, digital rights researcher, and digital security expert. She champions safer online spaces, focusing on countering Tech-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV) and promoting a feminist internet. Her work bridges media practice and human rights advocacy.
Their full bios are below:
Abigail Arunga
Abigail Arunga is a writer, author (Akello, A Side of Raunch, The Mysteries of Jabali and Sauti, Siri ya Mwezi) editor, columnist, moderator, scriptwriter, social media manager, influencer, publicist, poet, copywriter, bookstore owner, quizmaster, podcaster, and MC. She’s passionate about the arts, pop culture, current affairs, and social justice. Abigail is invested in how to sleep more, anti-capitalism, virulent feminism, and good fiction.
You can read her writing on the Daily Nation, Nation Online, Akoroko, Sinema Focus, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (Goalkeepers Report), Debunk Media, Goethe Institut Kenya, as well as her own website, akello.co.ke. You can see her most recent screen work on Showmax, on Pepeta and 4Play, and on Maisha Makutano on Citizen TV. Her podcast, the Wadhii Podcast is on Spotify. Her first short film as writer/director, Bella Is Dying Maybe Next Week, debuted in Nairobi in February 2025. She was recently awarded the Best Scriptwriter (TV Drama) of 2025 at the 6th Women In Film Awards.
Martin Mburu
Martin Mburu is a published author with about 20 years’ experience writing for diverse audiences. He has over 17 years’ experience teaching English, linguistics and writing at the university. He is also a blogger at martinmburu.com.
Leo Mutisya
Leo Mutisya is a researcher in media development, political governance and public policy, climate justice, grants management, project conceptualisation, in institutional management and literary criticism. He works as the Manager, Press Freedom and Advocacy at the Media Council of Kenya (MCK). His work involves promotion of press freedom through monitoring, rapid responses, and documentation.
Ahmad Salim
Ahmad Salim is a Kenyan creative strategist and Founder of Disruptive Media, a forward-thinking advertising, communication and strategy agency redefining how brands connect with people. With over 15 years in the industry, he has built and guided brands across East Africa, mentored rising talent, and championed creativity that’s bold, human and meaningful. He continues to inspire the next generation through mentorship and thought leadership, blending strategy, culture and creativity to drive purposeful change. He lives by one rule, disrupt with purpose.
Cecilia Maundu
Cecilia Maundu is a broadcast journalist, digital rights researcher, and digital security expert, as well as an African Union Media Fellow. She works at the intersection of journalism, technology, and human rights, championing safer and more inclusive digital spaces. Her work focuses on countering Tech Facilitated Gender Based violence targeting women journalists and minority groups online while upholding freedom of expression in digital environments.
Her work bridges the gap between media practice and digital rights advocacy, equipping newsrooms and activists with tools to navigate online threats, safeguard digital identities, and promote ethical technology use. Cecilia has trained journalists, human rights defenders, and youth groups across Africa and beyond on digital security, cyber hygiene, and responsible online engagement.
As the creator and host of the Digital Dada Podcast, Cecilia amplifies conversations around Tech Facilitated Gender Based Violence, digital security, and feminist approaches to technology. Through her advocacy and training, she promotes a feminist internet one that recognizes that Tech Faciliated Gender Based Violence is real violence and strives to make digital spaces safer for all.