Hanifa Adan Resigns From Radio Generation After 4 Months
Popular radio host and activist Hanifa Adan has stepped down from Radio Generation after only four months on air.
She joined the station on the third of April as a presenter without formal journalism training and announced her departure in a statement released on the fifth of August. During her time there she co-hosted The Generation Report with Mung’ala Mbuvi, using the platform to engage public figures on matters of national interest.
Her final assignment was an interview with Kimilili Member of Parliament Didmus Barasa conducted on the third of August. Hanifa revealed that she had already submitted her resignation before that conversation took place and was preparing to move on to other commitments. She described the exchange as the one that best illustrated the lessons of her brief broadcasting experience, noting that she entered the newsroom far more as an activist than as a journalist.
The presenter, who first gained public attention during the Gen-Z demonstrations of twenty-twenty-four, admitted she found it difficult to keep personal convictions separate from professional duties. Strong views on political accountability often led to accusations that she was emotional and biased, particularly toward politicians from the ruling party. She recalled being told repeatedly that journalism is not activism and that a reporter must question every guest without choosing sides according to personal preference.
That adjustment proved especially challenging. Hanifa explained that she had previously declined interviews with certain figures because offering them airtime felt at odds with her activist stance. Over time she came to recognise that newsroom responsibilities required a different approach, one that prioritised asking hard questions of every public official regardless of political affiliation. Conversations that eventually took place, including one with a former fellow activist, helped reinforce the distinction between advocacy and objective reporting.
Beyond the studio, Hanifa spoke of the wider pressures that accompany a high public profile. Many employers view activists as risks, and she sustained herself through writing assignments and consultancy work while navigating constant online scrutiny and rumours. Her departure from Radio Generation closes a short but formative chapter that sharpened her understanding of the boundaries between campaigning for change and practising journalism.
