There is no doubt that social media is on a roll in Kenya. Over the past 5 years or so, social media in Kenya has gone from being a novelty and peculiarity to becoming a dominant aspect of internet consumption habits across the board. Indeed, since Facebook has close to 3 million users, Linkedin over 0.5 million users and Twitter probably around 1 million user in Kenya, a guesstimate would be that there are over 4 million active social media users in the country? This number represents in the region of just under half of ALL the Internet users in Kenya. Its a BIG number! Yes, social media is indeed happening on a grand scale in Kenya. Nuff said!

Going to the heart of this blog post, last night the inaugural OLX Kenya Social Media Awards (SOMA) 2013 gala dinner was held at the Laico Regency in Nairobi. This “first of a kind” social media event in Kenya attracted a large number of nominees and without a doubt put a spotlight of Kenya’s elite “Digerati”. There was a broad range of relevant categories represented which seemed to be skewed to media but at the end of the day we got a very interesting and in a few cases controversial(?) winners. Therefore, find below the full list of nominees and eventual winners from the first Kenya Social Media Awards (SOMA) 20013:

Social Media News Channel Of The Year

Television Show/Programme

1. Churchill Show (Winner)
2. Tujuane
3. The XYZ Show
4. Power Break fast Show
5. Kubamba TV show

Radio Show

1. The Jam 98.4 – Capital FM Kenya
2. Goteana Show- Ghetto Radio
3. G Money Iz me – Homeboyz Radio
4. Homerun – Easy FM (Winner)
5. Hits Not Homework – Capital fM Kenya

Print Magazines

1. Pulse Magazine – East African Standard (Winner)
2. Zuqka – The Daily Nation
3. Insyder Magazine
4. Crazy Monday
5. True Love East Africa Magazine

Digital Channels

1. Capital FM Kenya
2. Buni TV
3. Citizen TV Kenya
4. NTV Kenya (Winner)
5. KTN Kenya

Social Media Personality Of The Year

Media personality of the year

1. Maina Kageni
2. Caroline Mutoko
3. Julie Gichuru (Winner)
4. Larry Madowo
5. Mwalimu Kingangi

Artist of the year

1. Juliani
2. Sauti Sol (Winner)
3. Nonini
4. Crème de la crème
5. Muthoni Ndonga

Most Influential Facebook Personality

1. Cabu Gah
2. Crazy Nairobian
3. Dennis Itumbi
4. Daniel Churchill Ndambuki (Winner)
6. Dennis Maladit

CEO Of The Year

1. Bob Collymore – Safaricom (Winner)
2. Mugo Kibati – Vision 2013
3. Aly-Khan Satchu – RICH Investments
4. Maggie Ireri – IPSOS Synovate
5. Peter Nduati – Resolution Insurance

Tweep Of The Year

1. Chief Francis Kariuki (Winner)
2. Dr. Paula Kahumbu
3. Sunny Bindra
4. Ory Okolloh – Kenyan Pundit
5. Boniface Mwangi

Most Influential Blogger The Year

1. Crazy Nairobian (Winner)
2. Dennis Itumbi
3. Hot Secretz- Grace Kerongo
4. James Wamathai
5. Dr. Paula Kahumbu

Overall Social Media Personality Of The Year

1. Dennis Itumbi
2. Daniel Churchill Ndambuki (Winner)
3. Crazy Nairobian
4. Bonface Mwangi
5. Dr. Paula Kahumbu

Social Media Corporate Award Of The Year

Facebook Campaign of the Year

1. Start Something new with Orange
2. Crack The Case – Heineken James Bond
3. Tembea Kenya
4. Bring Zack Back Home – Safaricom (Winner)
5. 1 Billion Reasons To Believe In Africa

Twitter Campaign Of The Year

1. Chase Debate – Chase Bank
2. Occupy Parliament – Boniface Mwangi (Winner)
3. Crack The Case (James Bond) – Heineken James
4. Bring Zack Back Home – Safaricom
5. Chagua Peace

Customer Service – Twitter

1. Safaricom (Winner)
2. Kenya Commercial Bank
3. Kenya Power
4. Red Cross
5. Bata Kenya

Customer Service – Facebook

1. Eat Out Kenya
2. Safaricom (Winner)
3. Samsung Mobile
4. Urban Bitez
5. Nokia East Africa

Facebook Page Of The Year

1. Juliani
2. The XYZ Show
3. Daniel Churchill Ndambuki (Winner)
4. Daily Nation
5. KTN

Corporate Twitter Account Of The Year

1. Safaricom (Twitter)
2. Bata Kenya
3. Chasebank
4. Kenya Airways
5. Dstv

Video Campaign Of The Year

1. Faiba – Jamii Telecom (Winner)
2. Safaricom Naweza
3. Start Something new with Orange
4. Nairobi Half Life
5. Crack the Case – Heineken James bond

Overall Corporate Award Of The Year

1. Safaricom (Winner)
2. Samsung Mobile Kenya
3. Bata Kenya
4. Airtel Kenya
5. Eat Out Kenya

Social Media Agency Of The Year

1. Brand 2D
2. Squad Digital (Winner)
3. Gina Din Corporate communication
4. Smoke Signal
5. ScanAd

Social Media Innovation Of The Year

1. Twitter big stick
2. Chief Kariuki
3. Wanadamu
4. Farming Kenya
5. iVolunteer by Kenya Red Cross (Winner)

Best Use of Social Media

Best Use Of Social Media In Events

1. Groove Awards
2. The Mingle
3. Networking in Heels
4. Blankets and wine
5. Safaricom 7s (Winner)

Best Use of Social Media For Social Corporate Responsibility

1. Nairobi Marathon – Standard Chartered
2. Lewa Marathon
3. Bring Zack Back Home – Safaricom (Winner)
4. United Colors of Kenya – CrownPaints
5. Rhino Charge

Best Use Of Social Media By Government Bodies

1. Kenya ICT Board
2. Kenya Power
3. Magical Kenya by Kenya Tourism Board (KTB)
4. Kenya Wildlife Service
5. Kenya Vision 2030 (Winner)

Best Use Of Social Media For Advocacy

1. Wildlife Conservation – Dr. Paula Kahumbu
2. Occupy Parliament – Boniface Mwangi (Winner)
3. Chagua peace
4. Wanadamu
5. United Colors of Kenya – Crown Paints

Special Award for Social Media

President Uhuru Kenyatta

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