The conference began in 2002, when 60 youth representatives from community radio stations as well as local youth organisations, with leadership from the Bush Radio Children's & Youth Radio Workshop (CREW) members, produced a Manifesto putting into words what children want from radio and how radio can respond to their needs. This outline document then defined the starting point for Radio Kidocracy 2002: to collaborate on the draft of an International Children's & Youth Radio Manifesto. Radio Kidocracy 2002 also developed the idea of a participatory youth radio conference. Radio production and recording workshops involved all delegates in active radio-making projects.

The 2003 conference expanded on the idea of a participatory youth radio conference in practical terms, with radio production and recording workshops. In addition, the 2003 MKK launched the International Children's & Youth Radio Manifesto.

In light of the completion of the International Children's & Youth Radio Manifesto, the 2004 conference developed the idea of a participatory youth radio conference with radio production and recording workshops involving all delegates in active radio-making projects. The 2004 event focused its attention on "Socialisation - How Are Youth Socialised?" The conference addressed the following issues in a series of workshops: (involving both discussion and the development of practical media production skills) culture (dealing with identity, xenophobia, and images of Africa), power and media, with an emphasis on race, class, gender, and faith.

The conference has been held on an annual basis since 2002, with a different theme each year, including conflict and peace building, and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. For the 2008 conference, which marked the 9th annual MKK, the six topics that were discussed during the workshops included: freedom of expression, global warming, gender, HIV/AIDS, cultural identity, and sexual exploitation of children. 50 young people from across Africa attended the conference, which was held in partnership with Bush Radio, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), and the Robben Island Museum.

Children, Youth

Organisers explain that the long-term plan is for the MKK is to become an annual youth media event with global links to all levels of children's and youth radio activity - from Internet radio to the local efforts of grassroots NGOs and national and international radio broadcasters.