Kiin Hasan Fakat
Ask any Somali who they depend on. They will always say ‘my mother’. Everything in Somalia depends on women.
Kiin Hasan Fakat was born in the town of Buale in southern Somalia, but fled across the border to Kenya as a young child when war engulfed her homeland. She was brought up and educated in the vast refugee camp of Dadaab — for a time the largest in the world.
"Living in Dadaab was a mixture of pleasure and hardship. Some people probably find it strange that I say that living in a refugee camp was pleasurable, but it was enjoyable compared with Somalia — because there was peace."
After completing a journalism course at Kenya's North Eastern National Polytechnic, Kiin worked for a year as a radio producer and reporter in Kenya, for the Somali station Risala FM and the Kenyan station Key FM.
She then decided to go home to Somalia, despite the ongoing insecurity. She moved to the southern city of Kismayo, where she worked for Radio Kismayo and other media outlets.
Kiin's very first radio programme focused on women's issues, and she remains committed to telling their stories. She plays an active role in women's media groups, including the Somali Media Women's Association. Bilan, she says, is the place for her — a safe and inspiring environment for women to tell their stories.
Her journey, so far
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Buale
Born in the town of Buale in southern Somalia, before war forces her family to flee across the border.
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Dadaab
Grows up and is educated in the vast Dadaab refugee camp — hardship and peace side by side.
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Training
Completes a journalism course at Kenya's North Eastern National Polytechnic.
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On air in Kenya
Works as a radio producer and reporter for Risala FM and Key FM.
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Home to Kismayo
Returns to Somalia despite the insecurity, reporting for Radio Kismayo and other outlets.
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At Bilan
Joins Bilan Media as a reporter and champions women's media groups, including the Somali Media Women's Association.
"Bilan is the place for me. It provides a safe and inspiring environment for women to tell their stories." Kiin Hasan Fakat — Reporter, Bilan Media
The women who hold Somalia together
From her very first radio programme, Kiin has told the stories of Somali women — and she has never stopped. Shaped by a childhood in Dadaab and a decision to return home despite the risks, she brings a rare perspective to Bilan's newsroom. Her conviction is simple and unshakeable: everything in Somalia depends on women — the economy, the home, the children, the family — and their stories deserve to be told by those who understand them.
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