This archive report was first published on 24 August 2020.
On August 24, 2020, Martha Karua, a seasoned politician and former presidential candidate, found herself at the center of a heated debate after a viral video of her interview with NTV's Olive Burrows.
The interview, which aired on August 18, 2020, saw Karua discuss a wide range of important issues, including the implementation of the Constitution and the implications of the handshake. However, it was her sharp response to a question by Burrows that caught the attention of many Kenyans.
When Burrows launched into a tangent on cultural norms and how girls and women were taught to behave, Karua interrupted her, saying, "I wasn't taught (how to behave like a woman)," in a seemingly irritated tone.
The simple three-word phrase sparked a conversation on gender bias in media coverage of women, with many Kenyan women identifying with Karua's frustration.
Some viewers argued that male politicians were rarely subjected to questions on cultural norms and defying tradition, while others questioned Burrows' interview style and her choice of questions.
"So much to ask, but this was the best question the reporter could think of? Martha's expression was the literal depiction of how one scorches the earth with a look! Those are the flames presenters who don't prepare, burn in," singer Sheila Mwanyigah wrote.
Various studies have unraveled evidence of the media's gender bias in how it covers leaders and political candidates, with important questions raised on how the media influences society's view on gender.
