Patricia Amira

EARLY LIFE

Patricia Amira was born in Nairobi, Kenya. She is the fifth of eight children (six girls and two boys). She spent parts of her childhood and education in Kenya, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. She attended the International School of Geneva from 1981 to 1985, the Convent of the Assumption in Richmond, North Yorkshire, England from 1985 to 1988, and Regent’s University London from 1989 to 1992.

CAREER

Amira began her media career in 2000 at 98.4 Capital FM in Nairobi, one of the early independent radio stations after media liberalisation in Kenya. She later moved into television, creating, hosting, and driving the content of The Patricia Show, a pan-African talk show that was syndicated across Africa as well as in Europe and the United States between 2009 and 2013. She has also presented a syndicated radio programme focused on African music styles. She has appeared in one feature film, Wanuri Kahiu’s Rafiki (2018), the first Kenyan film selected for the Cannes Film Festival, in which she played Rose Okemi, the mother of one of the lead characters. In parallel, Amira has built a significant career as a conference and webinar moderator, working with organisations including the African Leadership Network, World Health Organization, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, African Academy of Sciences, University of Oxford, and UN Women on topics ranging from health and agricultural value chains to women’s rights and scientific capacity-building in Africa.

PERSONAL LIFE

Amira is a mother to a daughter named Kaya. She has spoken about the responsibilities and joys of parenting and has described balancing professional work with family life. She is also a painter, practices yoga, and enjoys gardening.

Patricia Amira is co-chair of the board of Equality Now, an international organisation advocating for the rights of women and girls, with a focus on ending sexual violence, harmful practices, sexual exploitation, and discrimination in law. Her work has been recognised by Forbes Africa (one of the 40 Most Powerful Media Personalities in Africa, 2011) and Forbes Afrique (one of the 100 Most Influential Women in Africa, 2014). In 2013 she received the Women, Inspiration and Enterprise Media Award. She continues to work across broadcasting, moderation, advocacy, and creative pursuits.