kcauptti@kcau.ac.ke tel: +254 792 793056

Juma Brenda

Schools

Designation

Chair of Department, Behavioral Sciences and Creative Industries

Staff E-mail Address

brendajuma@kcau.ac.ke

Previous Titles

  • Subject Leader – Department of Performing Arts, Film and Media Studies. School of Education, Arts & Social Sciences, KCA University

Academic Qualification

  • PhD Film – Ongoing
  • MA Film (Kenyatta University)
  • BA Theatre Arts and Film Technology (Kenyatta University)
  • Micro MBA – Strathmore Business School
  • Certificate in Leadership – Depaul University

Membership of Professional Bodies/Associations

  • Film Lecturers and Trainers Association of Kenya (FLETA)
  • Women in Film & Television (WIFT)
  • The Voice Actors League of Africa (VALA)

Profile

Juma Brenda is an educator, filmmaker, and theatre practitioner, and a certified Start and Improve Your Business (SIYB) trainer by the International Labor Organization (ILO), with a focus on the creative industries. She served as an assessor for the Jasiri Talent Investor Selection Conference in 2022 and 2023. A transformational leader, she has been awarded for exemplary leadership at Strathmore Business School (SBS) and was featured among 100 women leaders recognized during Women’s History Month by the International Renaissance Centre, Kenya. She has also been featured in the Women in Film Diary alongside thirty nine (39 ) other women filmmakers in Kenya recognized for “changing the game” in the film industry.

She has extensive experience in teaching and learning facilitation in the Creative Arts across African universities, as well as in the supervision of award-winning student projects. Her work spans research, practice-based learning, capacity building, coaching, and business mentorship for emerging entrepreneurs within the creative sector.

In addition to her academic and mentorship roles, she has participated in several film, theatre, and television productions. As a cast member, she has appeared in Kenyan television series and films including Tukisonga, Otis Janam, Do or Die, Kijakazi (Maisha Magic East), Mjinga na Mshenzi (Ebru Africa), and Auntie Boss (NTV Kenya), among others.

She also served as a facilitator for the BE A STAR Holiday Training Programme by the Africa Film & TV Talent Resource Centre from 2017 to 2022. The programme focuses on identifying and nurturing children’s talents in the performing arts, including music, acting, dance, film, photography, and television presenting.

As a passionate storyteller, she has contributed to poetry anthologies including Best “New” African Poet 2016 Anthology and Writing Language, Culture, and Development: Africa vs Asia (Volume 1) published in 2017. As an author of children’s storybooks, she uses storytelling to promote learning among children in disadvantaged communities and those living with special needs, she has done several book drives and storytelling sessions in both rural and urban special schools in Kenya. As a voice artist and public speaker, she moderates high-level panel discussions and events, using her platform to amplify the voices of persons living with special needs in the creative industry while advocating for inclusive learning environments and equitable participation in the creative sector.

Areas of expertise

Performing arts, Production design, creative business, children’s theatre, Film and theatre for development, creative arts and health.

Selected Publications: Books, Refereed publications & Non Refereed publications

Research Interest

  • Industry – academia collaborations
  • Creative Businesses
  • Film and theatre for development
  • Performing Arts
  • Children’s theatre
  • Eco production design

Conferences & Chapters

  • 2026 March – Attended Inclusive Pedagogy in Blended Learning training at Utalii Hotel
  • 2025 November -Moderated Double masterclass by Hollywood’s Emmy Award nominee, Actress CCH Pounder, and Actress/ Director/ Producer, Angela Robinson Whitherspoon at KCA University
  • 2025 November- Attended Customer excellence training at KCA University
  • 2025 October 30th -31st – AI Case study workshop facilitated by Prof. Andrew Schenkel from Stockholm Business School at Eka, Hotel, Nairobi.
  • 2025 August 18th- 25th – Attended, data protection training Facilitated by Sentinel Africa Training institute at Safari Park Hotel, Nairobi.
  • 2025 August3rd-9th – Presented a paper at The One Heart4climate International Conference, 2025, Eco- scenic design: innovations in Kenyan Theatre Industry, held at Maasai Mara University
  • 2025 July 16th – 18th – Presented a paper at the 2nd Collaborative International Conference USIU- Africa & Doctoral Association of Eastern Africa (DAEA) 2025, Do or die: leveraging on industry- academia collaboration in fostering the growth of Kenyan film Industry, held at United States International University Africa (USIU -A)
  • 2025 June, convened The Cinematic Closet, with Isabel Nyamgero, a multi award winning costume designer in June 2025. This academia collaboration celebrated the powerful world of film, theatre, and creativity. Fifteen (15) universities and Colleges were present. Additionally in attendance were industry stakeholders – Kenya Film Commission (KFC), educators, filmmakers, thespians, production designers, makeup artists, costume designers, past Kalasha and Women in Film Awards (WIFA) costume award winners.
  • 2025 June- Presented a paper at the Biannual Conference of the Disability Inclusion Network, sexual and reproductive Health barriers to visually impaired girls in Kenya held virtually
  •  2025 May 28th– 30th – resented a paper at The Inaugural Biennial Postgraduate Students Conference, Children’s Theatre as a form of therapy to traumatized children, held at Maasai Mara University.
  • 2025 April 27-29 – Attended Artificial Intelligence conference; Harnessing AI for Innovation in Education at Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA).
  • 2025 February – Attended a workshop on using Integrated Artificial intelligence in research, teaching and learning by Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence (CTLE) at Safari Park Hotel.
  • 2024 October– Attended a virtual masterclass on the fundamentals of film business facilitated by film producer, Ms. Rachel Wainaina – IbiaTv &Youth Film Platform Africa
  • 2024 October– Attended a webinar on storytelling and dramaturgy for documentary films facilitated by Naziha Arebi- Great Lakes creative Producers Lab
  • 2024 October– Attended a webinar on proposal writing and pitch materials for funding facilitated by Tiny Mungwe- Great Lakes creative Producers Lab.
  • 2024 September – Attended a panel discussion on Digital and disruptive Media: propensities and prospects at KCA University.
  • 2024 September – Attended a workshop on Teaching Portfolio and Evidence Based Teaching and Learning by Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence (CTLE) at Safari Park Hotel.
  • 2024 July – Presented two papers at the 2nd Performing Arts Conference: Influence of technology on costuming in performing arts and accessibility of performing arts opportunities to visually impaired individuals.
  • 2024 July – Attended Pitching your innovation masterclass by HIE Innovation.
  • 2024 April– Attended a handbook of Women Filmmakers in Kenya Cinema Conference at Norfolk Hotel as a stakeholder.
  • 2024 April – Attended ISO staff awareness training at KCA University.
  •  2024 April– Attended curriculum development/ review & sensitization on competency-based curriculum by Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence (CTLE) at Utalii College.
  •  2024 March- Moderated a panel discussion during Tec Expo at KCA University
  • 2023 Sept- Oct- Attended Buni media puppetry satire training for TV at Buni media studios (specialized in sound, editing, voice acting and directing).
  • 2023 June – Attended Tamaduni conversations – Nairobi centered on cultural heritage in Nairobi city: policies, visual arts and crafts and public spaces for heritage and expression.
  • 2023 June – Attended a webinar panel discussion on trauma informed care for mental health by Prof. Dakota King White.
  • 2023 June – Attended a panel discussion on creative economy as an exciting frontier for National Development at KCA University.
  • 2023 June – Attended Supervision workshop at St. Paul’s University, Limuru.
  • 2022 Nov moderated a session at Lake International Pan African Film Festival (LIPFF) workshops on Monetizing digital content, film as a tool of peace and the state of film industry post covid
  • 2021 Aug 13th -22nd  Attended Durban Film Mart Virtual Edition- Disrupt, sessions attended (Finance and Pitching, co- producers’ corner- Kenya, Impact producing, building a community for animators in Kenya, method of actors pay, state of south African audio- visual industry, sketching African animation development platforms, Africa in Focus, women in Film, working with child actors.
  • 2021 July 8th – Promoting Education and Research in a rapidly changing world – Webinar, presented a paper – Coding and characterization In Darrell Roodt’s Winnie Mandela (2011) and Sarafina (1992)
  • 2020 Aug 26th-29th – Facilitated Start and Improve Your Business (SIYB) Virtual workshop.
  • 2020 Jan 22nd – Attended Pitching and presentation skills workshop by International Coaches Federation at KCA University.
  • 2019 Nov 8th- 11th – Facilitated Start and Improve Your Business (SYB) workshop by International Labor Organization (ILO) at KCA University
  • 2019 Sept 2nd -13th – Attended Training of Trainers (TOT) workshop by International Labor Organization (ILO) Nairobi.
  • 2018 Feb 13th-14th – Attended Helping skills for caring educators/counselors’ seminar at KCA University

Teaching (Learning Environment)

  • Experiential learning
  • Handson learning
  • Industry- Academia collaboration

Industry Engagement

Awards and Recognitions

  • 2025 – Award for excellent leadership awarded by Strathmore Business School (SBS), Institute for Small Business Initiatives (ISBI)
  • 2025 – During the 19th Graduation Ceremony at KCA University, my work as a researcher and innovator on The Cinematic Closet, industry – academia collaboration was recognized in the nexus, a publication from Division of Research, Innovation and Outreach.
  • 2025 – During the 18th Graduation Ceremony at KCA University, my work as a researcher and innovator, on the use of children’s theatre as a form of therapy, was recognized in The researcher, a publication from Division of Research, Innovation and Outreach.
  • 2025 -Course president for Micro MBA Class at Strathmore Business School (SBS), Institute for Small Business Initiatives (ISBI)
  • 2025 March – Award presenter at Kenya Theatre Awards for best Kikwetu production
  • 2024 Nov -Jury member, for artivisim through Fashion and Makeup by Badili Africa
  • 2024 Oct – Juror member, Kenyatta University Culture Week for performing arts
  • 2023 March – Award presenter at Women in Film Award for best costume designer
  • 2022 March – Featured alongside 100 women leaders recognized during Women History Month by International Renaissance Center, Kenya
  • 2022, Women in Film Diary-Featured alongside other 39 women filmmakers in Kenya “changing the game.”
  • 2021 Jury member, Africa’s Campus Battle

Media Presence and Public Engagement

Social Media and Academic Networking Tools

Juma Brenda
brendajuma@kcau.ac.ke