BBC made the announcement through its website on Wednesday, August 14, which came as a huge shock to ardent followers of the media space.
Remember Rukia Bulle, the NTV reporter who was thrust into the limelight when her encounter with the late former Education Cabinet Secretary, George Omore Magoha was captured in a video that caused uproar across the country? She is now one of the youngest winners of the BBC News Komla Dumor Award.
BBC made the announcement through its website on Wednesday, August 14, which came as a huge shock to ardent followers of the media space.
The award, which honours the late Ghanaian journalist Komla Dumor, was established to recognise outstanding African journalists.
The late BBC journalist, Komla Dumour. /BBC
Dumor, known for his exceptional storytelling and commitment to authentically representing and reporting on African stories, was a highly acclaimed journalist who presented Focus on Africa on BBC World News, in addition to being one of the lead presenters for the BBC World News European morning segment. He died suddenly in January 2014.
“The judges were impressed by Ms Rukia’s excellent skillset, resilience and ability to handle challenging stories, her focus on highlighting underrepresented voices, and her strong on-air presence,” said the BBC in part.
Bulle, who is the ninth recipient of the award and works for the TV station under Nation Media Group (NMG), specialises in human interest stories.
Moreover, she has also successfully built a strong following on TikTok through her relatable and informative content on the life of a journalist.
Speaking after the award, Bulle recounted bumping into the prestigious award around February on Instagram and the caption “said that they were looking for a young rising star in journalism and I remember thinking I’m proud of the work I have done the last couple of years and I’m going to apply.”
“Winning this award means a great deal to me. As a journalist, you constantly strive to do your best, regardless of recognition, so to be acknowledged on a global stage through the Komla Dumor Award is incredibly validating. I wanted to honour and contribute to Komla’s legacy in some way,” Bulle expressed.
“He was one of the best journalists of his generation; he epitomised the true essence of journalism: truth, accuracy, and objectivity. This award fuels my passion and motivates me to become an even better journalist. I hope this award inspires young girls like me, who wear the hijab and come from minority communities, to dream big and achieve their goals.”
As first reported by Viral Tea in July 2022, Bulle is a graduate of the United States International University-Africa (USIU), with a degree in journalism.
She worked as a producer and a content manager on a freelance basis before she moved to the NMG in August 2021, where she has been since. In 2023, she was named among the top 100 Most Influential Kenyan Muslims.
As part of the award, she will spend three months working with BBC News teams across television, radio and online in London, gaining valuable experience, mentorship and other opportunities.
She will also travel to an African country of her choice to produce a story that will be aired on BBC News for global audiences.
Bulle becomes the third Kenyan to win the award after Waihiga Mwaura (2018), now a lead presenter for Focus on Africa and Victoria Rubadiri (2020) who currently hosts CNN International’s series, Connecting Africa.
It is worth noting that both Waihiga and Rubadiri won the award during their stints at Citizen TV, making this the first time NMG has produced a BBC Komla Dumor Award winner.
At the age of 26, Bulle is the youngest Kenyan to win the award, setting a fantastic example to Gen Zs seeking to make their mark in the competitive world of journalism.
