ANNUAL JOURNALISM EXCELLENCE AWARDS (AJEA) 2012
ANNUAL JOURNALISM
EXCELLENCE AWARDS (AJEA) 2012 ISSUE NO. 1
Issue No. 1
INSIDE AWARDS CATEGORIES LIST OF WINNERS WINNERS BIOS PANEL OF JUDGES PICTORIAL
ANNUAL JOURNALISM EXCELLENCE AWARDS
4th MAY 2012
HILTON HOTEL NAIROBI
Promoting Press Freedom and Responsible Journalism 1
ANNUAL JOURNALISM EXCELLENCE AWARDS
ANNUAL JOURNALISM EXCELLENCE AWARDS (AJEA) 2012
THE INAUGURAL MEDIA COUNCIL OF KENYA JOURNALISM AWARDS 2012 BRIEF BACKGROUND:
T
he Media Council of Kenya is an independent national institution established by the Media Act 2007 (CAP 411B) as the leading institution in the regulation of media and the conduct and discipline of journalists in the country.
MCK Annual Journalists Excellence Awards (AJEA) endeavour to identify, acknowledge, inspire, support and promote media excellence in Kenya.
The inaugural awards organised under the Communication for Development (C4D) partnership between the Media Council of Kenya, the Ministry of Information and Communications, University of Nairobi’s School of Journalism and UNDP was held on 4th May 2012 at the Hilton Hotel, Nairobi. The awards were part of the two major events that the Media Council of Kenya had organised around the World Press Freedom Day celebrations. The other event was the East African Journalists’ Convention. The Chief Guest was the Deputy Speaker of the Kenya National Assembly, Hon Farah Maalim.
ANNUAL JOURNALISM EXCELLENCE AWARDS
FOREWORD
O
ne of our mandates at the Media Council of Kenya (MCK) is to promote high professional and ethical standards among journalists and in the media in general. In our efforts to identify, acknowledge, inspire, support and promote media excellence in Kenya, MCK organised the inaugural Annual Journalists Excellence Awards (AJEA) as one of the major events around the 2012 World Press Freedom Day celebrations held in Nairobi in May.
I would like to applaud the Communication for Development (C4D) partnership between the Media Council of Kenya, the Ministry of Information and Communications, the School of Journalism of the University of Nairobi and UNDP which saw the success of this event. We are also grateful for the support we received from the Communications Commission of Kenya, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) and Postbank for their valuable support.
From 2013, the journalism awards will be held to coincide with the World Press Freedom Day marked on 3rd May each year. I once again congratulate the winners in the various categories and it is my hope that they will continue upholding professionalism by adhering to the Code of Conduct for the Practice of Journalism as enshrined in the Second Schedule of the Media Act. HARON MWANGI
Chief Executive Officer & Secretary to the Council
From 2013, the awards ceremony will be held to coincide with the World Press Freedom Day celebrations marked on 3rd May each year.
Sponsors
FORD FOUNDATION
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ANNUAL JOURNALISM EXCELLENCE AWARDS (AJEA) 2012
WINNERS & RUNNERS UP IN VARIOUS CATEGORIES (a)
i. ICT and Telecommunications Awards 1. Antony Gitonga Winner (The Standard) 2. David Herbling 1st Runners Up 3. James Rawlings 2nd Runners Up
ii. Children and Youth Affairs Award 1. Joe Kiarie Winner (The Standard) 2. Joy Wanja 1st Runners Up 3. Mwaura Samora 2nd Runners Up
iii. Science and Environment Award 1. Wanjohi Kabukuru Winner (Diplomat East Africa) 2. Anthony Gitonga 1st Runners Up 3. Iddi Musyimi 2nd Runners Up
Antony Gitonga
iv. Health and Terminal Illnesses Award 1. Joy Wanja Winner (Daily Nation) 2. Joe Ombour 1st Runners Up 3. Diana Mwango 2nd Runners Up v. Gender Reporting Award 1. Carolyne Wafula 2. Isaac Ongiri 3. Ali Hassan
vi. Sports Award 1. Jonathan Komen 2. Elias Makori 3. Phares Mutembei vii. Arts, Culture and Travel Award 1. Nicholas Anyuor 2. Joy Wanja 3. Rawlings Otieno
viii. 1. 2. 3.
Winner (Sunday Nation) 1st Runners Up 2nd Runners Up
Winner (Daily Nation) 1st Runners Up 2nd Runners Up
Winner (The Standard) 1st Runners 2nd Runners Up
Photographer of the Year Award Collins Kweyu Winner (The Standard) Moses Omusula 1st Runners Up Jennifer Muiruri 2nd Runners Up
ix. Cartoonist of the Year Award 1. Victor Amatieku 2. Eric Jacob 3. Samuel Muigai
x. Business Award 1. Abel Kabiru 2. Boniface Ongeri 3. Constant Mundia
xi. Developmental Award 1. Joseph Wambugu 2. Joy Wanja 3. Rawlings Otieno
Joy Wanja
Caroline Wafula
Winner (The Star) 1st Runners Up 2nd Runners Up
Winner (Think Business magazine) 1st Runners Up 2nd Runners Up
Collins Kweyu
Winner (The People) 1st Runners Up 2nd Runner Up
xii. Young Journalist of the Year Award 1. Frankline Sunday Winner (Business Daily) 2. Emannuel Sabuni 1st Runners Up 3. Njoki Chege 2nd Runners Up
xiii. Reporter of the Year (Print) 1. Nyambega Gisesa 2. Dann Okoth
Winner (Daily Nation) Runners Up 3
Jonathan Komen
ANNUAL JOURNALISM EXCELLENCE AWARDS
(b) i. 1. 2.
ii. 1. 2. 3.
ANNUAL JOURNALISM EXCELLENCE AWARDS (AJEA) 2012
TELEVISION
ICT and Telecommunications Award Andrew Ochieng Winner (Citizen TV) Catherine Nasimiyu Runners Up
Children and Youth Affairs Award Rose Wangui Winner (NTV) Pamela Asigi 1st Runners Up Evelyne Wambui 2nd Runners Up
iii. 1. 2. 3.
Health and Terminal Illnesses Award John Allan Namu Winner (NTV) Evelyne Wambui 1st Runners Up Irene Choge 2nd Runners Up
v. 1. 2. 3.
Arts, Culture and Travel Award Lulu Hassan/ Moses Baya Jeff Koinange James Smart
iv. 1. 2. 3.
Gender Reporting Award Josephine Maina Joy Mkawasi Ferdinand Omondi
Mohammed Ali
Winner (K24) 1st Runners Up 2nd Runners Up Winner (KTN) 1st Runners Up 2nd Runners up
Rose Wangui
vi. 1. 2. 3.
Good Governance Award Judy Kosgei/Justus Onyango Munira Mohammed Calvin Chitwa
viii. 1. 2. 3.
Young Journalist of the Year Award Job Mwaura Winner (Citizen TV) Willis Raburu 1st Runners Up Saida Swaleh 2nd Runners Up
vii. 1. 2. 3.
ix 1. 2. 3. x. 1. 2. 3.
Developmental Award Francis Mutegi Rose Wangui Isabella Kituri
Winner (NTV) 1st Runners Up 2nd Runners Up
Reporter of the Year Mohammed Ali Dennis Onsarigo Ferdinand Omondi
Winner (KTN) 1st Runners Up 2nd Runners Up
News Anchor of the Year (Television) Smriti Vidyarthi Winner (NTV) Swaleh Mdoe 1st Runners Up Michael Njenga 2nd Runners Up
xi. Cameraman of the Year 1. Mauritius Oduor 2. Eugene Osidiana 3. Edwin Mwai
(c) i. 1.
ii. 1. 2.
Winner (Citizen TV) 1st Runners Up 2nd Runners Up
RADIO
Lulu Hassan
Winner (Citizen TV) 1st Runners Up 2nd Runners Up
ICT and Telecommunications Award John Nene - Winner (BBC)
Good Governance Award Kioko Kivandi Marciella Wamoyi
John Allan Namu
Smriti Vidyarthi
Winner (Radio Amani) Runners Up 4
ANNUAL JOURNALISM EXCELLENCE AWARDS (AJEA) 2012
3. Science and Environment Award
AWARDS CATEGORIES
Our environment is threatened by dangerous human actions and ecological factors, making its conservation precious and urgent. The science and environment award recognizes journalists who demonstrate knowledge and skill in reporting new developments in science and efforts to conserve the environment.
CITATIONS
1. ICT and Telecommunications Award
This award recognises a journalist who understands technological innovations around the world and endeavours to inform the public on how such developments impact their day-to-day lives, and hence the need to embrace them.
The winner:
Print: Wanjohi Kabukuru for his well-researched and detailed story on banned pesticides that are harmful to the environment and an expose on the destruction of the sand dunes of Lamu.
The winners:
Print: Anthony Gitonga for his story on how villagers are using smartphones to send information on water levels in Turkana to drought monitoring experts.
Story title: The Lamu Sand Dunes of Life; and Deadly Pesticides Pose Death Pollution for East Africa
Story title: Smartphones Bleep to the Rescue of Drought Stricken Turkana
Media Published: Diplomat East Africa
Media House: The Standard
Television: Andrew Ochieng and Mathenge Goko for their story on how using kindles and e-books has revolutionalized learning at remote Ntimigom Primary School in Kilgoris.
4. Health and Terminal Diseases Award
The scourge of terminal illnesses in our country has raised eyebrows about the level of public awareness of serious pandemics. This award therefore goes to the journalist who illuminates health issues and efforts to combat dangerous diseases in our midst in an effort to create a healthier nation and functional health system.
Story Title: Kilgoris Pupils Go Hi-tech Media House: Citizen TV
The winners:
Radio: John Nene for his story about a Mr Robert Mburu who, using his telecommunications skills, invented what he calls “Security Master” that can detect and respond to security threats beyond the normal CCTV camera to the great relief and approval of residents of Nakuru.
Print: Joy Wanja for her story on the neglect of the Kenya Medical Technical College – the only governmentsponsored middle-level medical institution in the country; and another story on a step-by-step procedure on a heart surgery and on Cancer treatment.
Media House: BBC
Story Titles: Specialized Heart and Cancer Treatment now Available Locally; Date with a Surgeon.
2. Children and Youth Affairs Award
Media Published: Daily Nation
In accordance with the Code of Conduct for the Practice of Journalism, this award seeks to recognise in-depth reporting of issues affecting children and the youth.
Television: John Allan Namu and Robert Gichira for a special report on Ambilikile Mwasipile and his wonder concoction hat he says can cure all diseases.
The winners:
Print: Joe Kiarie for his two-part series on sex tourism in the Kenyan coast, where beach boys pimp young girls and men trade siblings as sex slaves at the coast.
Story Title: The Loliondo Wonder Media House: NTV
Story title: Sex Merchants
5. Gender Reporting Award
Media House: The Standard
Our society has acknowledged marginalization and inequality between citizens as a national need. This award goes to the journalist whose work highlight gender disparities or efforts to mitigate inequality.
Television: Rose Wangui for a set of stories on young men who have turned their lives around from crime to being productive in society and another on women in Lugari who have taken on jobs that would normally be considered a preserve of men.
The winners: Print: Caroline Wafula for her story on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) highlighting the painful experience of Nominated MP Sophia Abdi Noor.
Story Titles: Kibera former Gangster; and Lugari Brick Women .
Story title: Memories of My Circumcision Have Haunted Me to Date
Media House: NTV
Media Published: Sunday Nation 5
ANNUAL JOURNALISM EXCELLENCE AWARDS
ANNUAL JOURNALISM EXCELLENCE AWARDS (AJEA) 2012
Television: Josephine Maina for her story with a difference – an expose of the ‘unusual’ domestic violence against men in Nyeri.
who had been handcuffed and manhandled in a police crackdown on illicit brews, only for the officers to realize that they did not have the keys to the handcuffs and therefore had to walk to the station to unlock them and release the boy.
Story title: Men under Siege Media Published: K24.
Picture title: This, for ‘aiding’ crime; Multipurpose Tool; and Mututho Law suspect?
6. Sports Award
Media published: The Standard
Colour, action and passion are synonymous with sport. This award goes to the journalist who exhibits knowledge and skill in reporting sports during the year.
9. Cartoonist of the Year Award
Words or no words, cartoons portray the best and worst in society with humour. This award recognizes the artistic creativity, relevance, presentation and impact of caricatures in depicting social circumstances.
The winner:
Print: Jonathan Komen for his story on young men and women who defy the odds in rural areas to become athletics stars and still manage to excel in school as evidenced by a 22-member squad to the seventh IAAF.
The Winner:
Print: Victor Amatieku alias Vic Ndula for his series of illustrations/caricatures that told the story without captions.
Story title: International Sports Giants take their Rivalry to Examination Hall; and Youth seek to Retain title as Coach says Squad is best ever.
Cartoons titles: The World marks International Women’s Day; and Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto engage Raila Odinga in a War of Words over ICC Indictments.
Media published: Daily Nation
Media published: The Star
7. Arts, Culture and Travel Award
10. Business Award
Journalists are required to be expressive when reporting about the creative arts. Their duty is to bring to life what is created and also paint a mental picture of what they see for their audiences. This is the essence of the arts, culture and travel award.
This award honours a journalist who demonstrates excellence in reporting finance, business and economic issues, and whose work engenders better public understanding of the implications of complex issues to the common ‘mwananchi’ and also other knowledgeable sector players.
The winners:
Print: Nicholas Anyuor for an array of stories on various cultural practices in Nyanza dating as far back as 50 years.
The Winner:
Print: Abel Kabiru for his story on the credibility of the Governor of the Central Bank of Kenya and another on how the country is losing revenue through the sale of counterfeit products.
Story title: NAK: The Ultimate Test of Courage for a Luo youth; and Centre on Mission to preserve Culture Media Published: The Standard
Story titles: Governor Under Siege: Litmus Test for CBK Governor; and How the Economy is losing to counterfeits.
Television: Lulu Hassan and Moses Baya for their detailed report of young African men and women who find themselves in unorthodox relationships with elderly foreign tourists just to make a living or even prey on them for inheritance.
Media published: Think Business magazine
11. Good Governance Award
This award recognizes journalism that promotes good governance and advances the rule of law and national cohesion by highlighting issues afflicting the country.
Story title: Kiza cha Starehe
The Winner:
Media House: KTN
Radio: Kioko Kivandi for his series of reports on internally displaced persons in the Rift Valley following the 2007 post-election violence who fled to Kiryandongo Refugee Camp in Uganda and their reflections as refugees of the root causes of the inter-ethnic conflict. Stories title: Kilio kutoka Uganda; Tohara La Lazima; and Kilio cha Wamaasai.
8. Photographer of the Year Award
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. This award is presented to the photojournalist who best exemplifies dexterity in the use of their camera and enterprise to tell the story.
The winner:
Media House: Radio Amani
Print: Collins Kweyu for a pack of three entries that included an exclusive picture of an eight-year-old boy 6
Television: Judy Kosgei and Justus Onyango for their feature story on matatus in Kisii that never get full. The
ANNUAL JOURNALISM EXCELLENCE AWARDS (AJEA) 2012
habit of overloading passengers and defying road safety rules is a display of bad governance.
the deadline with exclusive stories.
The Winner:
Television: Mohammed Ali for his nerve- wracking investigative story into the criminal ring of drug trafficking, murder and impunity among law enforcement agencies; and official complicity in the mysterious murder of Police officer E. Chemworei broadcast on KTN’s Jicho Pevu.
Story title: Loads of Impunity Media House: Citizen TV
12. Developmental Award
Journalism is a critical tool for social transformation. This award recognizes journalistic work that spotlights development initiatives that contribute towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals and Vision 2030.
Story title: Parawanja La Mihadarati Media House: KTN
The winners:
Print: Nyambega Gisesa for his exclusive story on a jihadist named Ahmed Iman, an Al Shabaab commander. Story title: What Happened to this Man?
Print: Joseph Wambugu for his stories on the production and processing of tea and how it is ‘powering’ slum areas with a constant supply of electricity.
Media House: Daily Nation
Story title: London Cup of Tea Brewed in Nyeri, Power Project to Fade out Slum Problems.
15. Cameraman of the Year Award
This award recognises the unspoken heroes of the profession who toil behind the scenes, defying odds to capture events and news on camera for television.
Media published: The People
Television: Francis Mutegi and Stephen Mwei for their story about five Maasai women ‘solar engineers’ who underwent training on solar energy in India and returned to light up their houses despite their never having undergone any formal education.
Winner:
Television: Mauritius Oduor for demonstrating, through a series of images, the keen eye that captures details and separates him from the ordinary camera crew.
Story title: Operation Linda Nchi; and Drought in Turkana
Story title: Solar Sisters
Media House: Citizen TV
Media aired: NTV
13. Young Journalist of the Year Award
16. Television News Anchor of the Year
This award recognizes talent and potential among print or broadcast journalists aged 25 and below who demonstrate diligence, industry, creativity and integrity through their work.
This award is dedicated to a news presenter or anchor who demonstrates versatility, articulation, authority and poise in news presentation.
The Winner:
The Winner:
Smriti Vidyarthi-Mohindra for her arresting presence, engaging character, command of news, calm presentation and superior Live interviewing skills.
Print: Frankline Sunday for a series of stories on the search for gold in Western Kenya and another on Tobacco farmers unhappy with the new rates for tobacco set by the manufacturing companies.
Media House: NTV
17. Journalist of the Year Award (Overall)
Story title: Tobacco Farmers turn up the Heat against Cigarette Companies; Villagers count Deadly Cost of search for elusive Gold in pits of Death. Media Published: Business Daily
The overall journalist of the year is the one who not only exhibits professional excellence but whose work has the greatest impact during the year. He or she is an exemplar of the courage, dedication, consistency and resilience in the service of the profession and society that defines the role of the media.
Television: Job Mwaura for his two-part series that unearthed the unpalatable truth about vegetables many Nairobi residents consume that are watered using raw sewage from the city’s sewerage plant.
The winner:
In recognition of his extra ordinary initiative, drive, courage and consistency in the pursuit of rare and dangerous stories that have impacted society, expanded the horizons of journalism and set the pace for investigative journalism, the 2012 journalist of the Year is Mohammed Ali for his investigative TV story ‘Paruwanja la Mihadarati’.
Story title: Kitoweo Tatanishi Media House: Citizen TV.
14. Reporter of the Year
Field and investigative reporting is the crux of journalism. This award is presented to a print or broadcast journalist who exemplifies tenacity, agility, courage and enterprise in difficult circumstances to beat
Media House: KTN 7
ANNUAL JOURNALISM EXCELLENCE AWARDS
ANNUAL JOURNALISM EXCELLENCE AWARDS (AJEA) 2012
AJEA 2012 WINNERS BIOS pRINT
EXCELLENCE AWARDS
Previously he worked for the The People newspaper. He trained in Photography and Audio Visual Communication at the Kenya Polytechnic University College, Nairobi. He is currently undertaking a course in Mass communication at the Media School Africa and he is among the founders of an interactive online social blog called Peace Forum Journal. Kweyu’s winning picture of an underage boy handcuffed by Police in Kibera during a raid on illicit brew dens was motivated by a call he received from a resident who claimed that a child had been handcuffed by police officers on suspicions that his mother was selling illicit liquor in East Africa’s largest slum.
Anthony Gitonga
A correspondent with The Standard newspaper and KTN based in Naivasha, Gitonga is a diploma holder in Mass Communication from the Kenya Institute of Mass Communication (KIMC). He has covered many major stories that have been published in both local and international media. Some of these stories include: the 2007 postelection violence, the late Catholic priest Fr. John Kaiser’s inquest, Lord Delamere grandson’s saga and The Sudan peace talks, among others.
Joseph Wambugu
Gitonga’s won the ICT and Telecommunications Award (Print category) for his story: ‘Smart-phones beep to the Rescue of Drought-stricken Turkana’ which is about a move to address the perennial drought in Northern Kenya through the use of modern phone technology.
Wambugu, aged 34 years, has practised journalism for almost a decade. He is a correspondent with The People based in Nyeri. He covers various beats including: the environment, development, business and politics. Wambugu won in the Development category for his stories London Cup of Tea Brewed in Nyeri; and Power project to Fade out Slum Problems on the production and processing of tea and how it is powering slum areas with a constant supply of electricity. The motivation behind the first feature story was on Iria-ini Tea Factory in Othaya, which processes tea and sells it directly, was to show how direct markets brought more hope to the farmers. The second feature was about residents of Majengo area and other slum dwellers in the country set to benefit from low-cost electricity at Sh1,000 as connection fee instead of the usual Sh35,000. He saw the Sh1 billion project as a noble one by Kenya Power.
Jonathan Komen
Komen began writing in 2003 without any formal training in Journalism. However, Nation Media Group identified his talent and accorded him a place as a correspondent where he gained experience and has managed to win several awards over the years. He then enrolled at Mt Kenya University to pursue Journalism and Mass Communication where he is currently in second year. In 2011, he won the Kenyan Athletics Journalist of the Year Award and the 2011 Best Order Award (Outstanding Employee) for Nation Media Group’ s Eldoret Bureau and the Corporate Culture Annual Award in the annual Staff Recognition Awards.
Frankline Sunday
Sunday, aged 25 years, just graduated from Maseno University with a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication and Media Technology. As a journalism student, he was a reporter and then a managing editor at departmental publication. In his third year he was an intern with the Nation Media Group’s Business Daily newspaper. After his studies he joined the Business Daily as a correspondent in Kisumu where he is still based to date.
Komen won in the Sports category for his story: ‘International Sports Stars Take Battle to Examination Halls’ which he says the might of highly talented boys and girls with some of them waiting to sit for their national examinations during the IAAF World Youth Championships in Lille, France in mid 2011 motivated him.
Sunday won the Young Journalist of the Year (Print) Award for a series of stories on the search for gold in Western Kenya and on Tobacco farmers who were not satisfied with the new rates for tobacco set by the manufacturing companies.
Collins Kweyu
Kweyu is a seasoned photojournalist with the Standard Group. He has a knack for covering conflict, famine, and other disasters with a keen eye for the unusual, action-packed and other interesting angles that invite tears of sorrow and joy in equal measure.
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The motivation behind his first story was mere curiosity. He says he was curious to know how tobacco farmers were copping with the current pressures by anti-smoking advocates. The motivation of the second story came from an old man who had lost his son and two nephews to the
ANNUAL JOURNALISM EXCELLENCE AWARDS (AJEA) 2012
brutal occupation of artisanal mining and had, despite leasing his land to gold miners, continued to wallow in abject poverty.
excuses for not doing their work.
Baya and his reporter Lulu Hassan won in the Arts, Culture and Travel Award (TV) category for their detailed report of young African men and women who find themselves in unorthodox relationships with elderly foreign tourists just to make a living or prey on them for inheritance. The motivation behind this story was to provide the best shots that depict the true picture of what happens to foreigners and the locals who engage in polygamy and polyandry at the Kenyan coast.
Joe Kiarie
Kiarie is a University of Nairobi graduate and has worked as a journalist in various media houses since 2005. He is currently a staff writer at the Standard Group’s weekend editions, specializing in features. Kiarie won theChildren and Youth Affairs’ Award for his two-part series ‘SexMerchants; Where Boys trade Siblings as Sex slaves’ about sex tourism where beach boys pimp young girls and boys trade siblings as sex slaves at the coast.
Rose Wangui
Wangui is a Features Reporter with NTV where her duties also include general news reporting, scripting and editing video clips. She focuses on human-interest stories, especially social, health and environmental issues.
NYAMBEGA GISESA
He is currently a final year student at Kenyatta University where he is pursuing an Economics and Finance degree. He is also pursuing law as a private student. Despite not having studied journalism, he has won several awards and recognitions for his journalism work. He is currently writing a book about his controversial suspension from the university and the ongoing war against the Al-Shabaab militants in Somalia.
She won in the Children and Youth Affairs (TV) category for a set of stories on young men who had turned their lives around from crime to being productive in society and another story on women in Lugari who have taken on jobs normally considered a preserve of men.
Gisesa won in the Reporter of the Year (Print) Award for his exclusive story on a jihadist named Ahmed Iman, an Al Shabaab Commander. The story detailed Ahmed’s progression to radicalism, disappearance in late 2008 and his return shortly after to declare a jihad against Kenya.
Andrew Ochieng’
The 26 year-old has been a journalist at Citizen TV for three years now, filing stories on health, the environment, politics, socio-economics and technology. He graduated from USIU with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and is currently pursuing a MA in Communication studies at the University of Nairobi. Ochieng’ and his cameraman Mathenge Goko won in the ICT and Telecommunications (TV) category for their story on how using kindles and e-books have revolutionalized learning at Ntimigom Primary School in rural Kilgoris.
Getting information about Sheikh Iman Ali, the supreme leader of Al-Shabaab in Kenya, was not an easy task. Within a few hours of inquiring about him, the Al-Shabaab circulated Gisesa’s name in its active social networks as a target for elimination. The investigations that started in late December last year have seen Gisesa shot at in a Nairobi estate, his life threatened, his being chased away from mosques and his travel to Somalia in search of this elusive Al-Shabaab commander.
He was motivated to doing this story by the mere fact that the children from rural Kilgoris who could barely afford school uniform yet they have been able to embrace technology after two American philanthropists donated the equipment to the school.
TELEVISION Moses Baya
Baya is a Mombasa-based cameraman currently working for KTN. He started at NTV in January 2000, where he was the only cameraman for the group in the Coast region. He left NTV in 2005 to join KTN. Baya graduated from Kenya Institute of Mass Communication in 1997. He trained in Film and Video Production Techniques. He has also had some international training in camera work with UK-based Thomson Reuters Foundation. His interest is humaninterest stories that can bring a change to retrogressive and conservative communities. He believes that even in difficult situations, cameramen are not allowed to give
Justus Netia Onyango
Onyango joined Citizen TV in 2010 as a Camera Operator based in Kisumu Bureau. He holds a diploma in Television Production from the Kenya Institute of Mass Communication and has been in the media industry since 2008. He freelanced for two years where, other than TV camerawork, he has also ventured in PR and photography. 9
ANNUAL JOURNALISM EXCELLENCE AWARDS
ANNUAL JOURNALISM EXCELLENCE AWARDS (AJEA) 2012
Smriti Vidyarthi
Mauritius Oduor
Smriti has been a news anchor and reporter for NTV since 2008. She fronts major live events and breaking news, conducts interviews with influential figures and frequently reports on daily assignments and features. Before joining NTV, Smriti was a business news anchor at K24. She holds a BA in Theatre and Performance Studies from the University of Warwick (UK) and a Masters Degree in International Broadcast Journalism from City University London (UK).
Oduor has been working for Citizen TV as a cameraman since 2007. Before then he was a trainee at KTN having graduated from Kenya Institute of Mass Communication with a diploma in Film and Video Production in 2007.
Oduor is MCK winner of the Best Cameraman of the Year 2012 Award for his courage in covering the Kenyan Defence Forces military intervention in Somalia dubbed ‘Operation Linda Nchi’.
Stephen Mwei
Her motivation behind her competence, believability and likeability during news anchoring, interviewing and reporting skills emanates from her ability to cover a story from the very beginning (reporting on the field) to the very end (delivering the story to the audience).
Mwei has been a cameraman for NTV since 1999, where his duties include covering news and news production. In 2005 he was awarded the overall cameraman of the year award by the Kenya Union of Journalists. In 2007 he and his reporter won the CNN Multichoice African Journalist Award in the environment category.
Job Mwaura
Mwaura, 25, is a vibrant news reporter at Citizen TV and hopes to infuse fresh and creative ideas into the electronic media in order to impact the lives of his audience positively and also to achieve the best he can in his journalism career.
In 2009 he attained a certificate in live TV Broadcasting from AUB-FIFA Broadcast Academy and in 2011 he was trained and awarded a certificate in TV news by Reuters. Mwei and his reporter won in the Developmental Award category for their story ‘The 5 Maasai Solar Engineers’ about some five Maasai grannies who were returning home after a six-months training in Solar Engineering in India and who successfully installed a lighting system in one of the mud-plastered houses in their village (Manyatta). This was meant to save them from various respiratory ailments brought about by air pollution in their unventilated huts.
He won the Young Journalist of the Year Award (TV category) for his story ‘Kitoweo Tatanishi’ (Sewage vegetables) about a chunk of land in Njiru area of Nairobi, where a group of people use sewage water to grow vegetables that are later sold to unsuspecting buyers in supermarkets.
Mohammed Ali
RADIO
Mohammed often takes the risk of going the extra mile to expose the evils in our society through his various TV exposes such as the on the disciplined forces, youth and drugs, Track-it saga, the Artur brothers story and the one terrorist Abdullah Fazul. His winning story ‘Paruwanja la Mihadarati’, which was about the highly connected drugs cartels in the country and the execution of innocent police officers, was one of his best researched and well executed exposes.
KIOKO KIVANDI
Kivandi has been a radio journalist in Nakuru since 2007. Before joining Radio Amani in 2009, he worked at Sauti ya Mwananchi Radio, having moved from Baraka FM in Mombasa. He issues of democracy and good governance, especially after his training on Conflict Sensitive Reporting by Internews. At Radio Amani he hosts the morning show. So far he has covered the aftermath of the 2007 post-election violence in the Rift Valley, especially in Nakuru, Naivasha, Rongai, Molo, Likia and Njoro. He has also covered land conflict in Likoni, Mombasa Island, Kwale, as well as in Eldoret and Nyeri.
Mohammed had to flee the country after airing the names of top government officials, businessmen and women and senior police officers suspected to be behind the 2004 cocaine haul in Malindi and Embakasi in Nairobi. Before the airing of the story, some police officers framed and arrested him for stealing a mobile phone, a crime he denies committing. The deal was to make him drop the names of some big shots, top cops and the Statehouse connection in the drugs story. He however stood his ground and aired the story despite the threats. 10
The motivation behind his winning story ‘Kilio cha Wakenya Walio Uganda’ (The Cry of Kenyan Refugees in Uganda) was the need to expose the lack of Kenyan Government commitment in bringing back Kenyans who fled to Uganda following post-election violence.
ANNUAL JOURNALISM EXCELLENCE AWARDS (AJEA) 2012
MEET THE JUDGES OF THE AJEA AWARDS (i) Nominating Panel
Journalism. She has a Master of Arts degree from Daystar University and is currently pursuing doctoral studies in mass communication.
Before joining the academia, Ms Mueni worked in the print section of Nation Media Group specifically with Daily Nation and the now defunct Daily Metro.
Isaiah Cherutich Mr Cherutich is a broadcast journalist who is currently an Electronic Media and Public Relations lecturer at USIU, Nairobi. He is also the immediate former head of department of the USIU Journalism program, a position he had held since September 2005. He is a member of PRSK, KUJ and an associate member of KIM.
Other than journalism and media studies, her interests are in gender representation in the mass media, popular culture, conflict sensitive journalism and election reporting. She is in the process of writing a book on the Kenyan hip-hop culture and its depiction of women in videos.
Caleb Atemi
Mr Cherutich has over 19 years experience in the industry having worked at KTN in the 1990s and having been the Chief Public Relations Officer at the National Housing Corporation from 1996 to 2000. He has also taught in various institutions of higher learning, among them Moi University, Kenya Institute of Mass Communication and Maseno University. He continues to provide consultancy in media and communications to various organizations in Kenya, among them the Foreign Service Institute.
Mr Atemi is an Editor and Communications consultant based in Nairobi. He also doubles up as a media trainer. He is currently a lecturer at KEMU, having also taught at Tangaza, USIU and KIMC. Before that, he worked for NSSF, Internews, Oxfam and had been a journalist with the Nation Media Group for many years. Mr Atemi has also consulted for various organizations including the World Bank, PANOS, NACC, Kenya Human Rights Commission, Amref, AWC, ACE Communications, the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent and IAVI, among others.
Martha Mbugguss Ms Mbugguss lectures at the Africa Nazarene University where she is also the founding chair of the Mass Communication department. She holds a Masters degree in Communication from Daystar University, a postgraduate Diploma in Mass Communication from the University of Nairobi’s School of Journalism, and a BA from Jabalpur University, Madhya Pradesh, India. pursuing a PhD at Moi University.
Mr Atemi has a Masters degree in Journalism Studies from Cardiff University, UK. He has several published works, including some biographies and books on media training
Aileen Kimutai She is currently
Ms Kimutai is a seasoned sports journalist who began her career at the Kenya Times as a trainee sports reporter. She then moved to KTN between 1990 and 2003, rising to head the sports department. She is currently a sports correspondent with AFP based in Nairobi.
Previously she worked as a lecturer at Daystar University and as a Communications director at the National Council of Churches of Kenya. Before then she was a long serving journalist at both the Nation Media Group and Standard Group. She is the author of ‘A Date with Jesus’ and coauthor of ‘Gender Union’.
Njoroge Mwaura Mundia Muchiri
Joy Mueni Ms Mueni is a lecturer of journalism and mass communication at the University of Nairobi’s, School of
Luke Njeru
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ANNUAL JOURNALISM EXCELLENCE AWARDS
ANNUAL JOURNALISM EXCELLENCE AWARDS (AJEA) 2012
MEET THE JUDGES OF THE AJEA AWARDS Journalism from the University of Wales in Cardiff, UK, as well as a Bachelors degree in Political Science from the University of Nairobi.
(Ii) Judging Panel Joe Kadhi
She has an interest in the role of media and public participation and has so far taken part in various initiatives aimed at building the capacity of Kenyan media in understanding democratic governance issues. She also serves as a member of the joint steering committee of the Kenya National Integrated Civic Education Programme.
Joe Kadhi is a former Managing Editor of both the Sunday Nation and the Daily Nation. He edited the two national newspapers for a total of 15 years during which time he wrote a weekly provocative column known as ‘Why? Asks Joe Kadhi’. During his long editorship of the two papers he had to resist a lot of pressure from the Government of the time which led to his arrest and a short period behind bars when he was accused of disrespecting Kanu, the ruling party.
Joseph Nyanoti
Mr Nyanoti is currently a Journalism lecturer at USIU but has also taught at the University of Nairobi, Daystar University and Tangaza College. His teaching areas are Print media, Communication Research Methods, Media Law and Ethics and Theories of Mass Communication. His research area is the youth and television content.
He taught postgraduate journalism students at the University of Nairobi for almost a decade during which time he was also a visiting lecturer at the Graduate School of Journalism, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia. At that time he was also a regular lecturer on ‘Media and Democracy’ to visiting students from St. Lawrence University, New York, for a period of five years. Currently Joe Kadhi is a lecturer at USIU Nairobi where he teaches journalism, especially media ethics. He was part of the team that established the journalism department at USIU 13 years ago. He heads the Department of Extended Studies, which regularly brings in journalism students from Norway for a series of lectures. He is the author of several books.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Literature and Linguistics, a postgraduate Diploma in Mass Communication and a Master of Arts in Communication Studies from the University of Nairobi. He is currently doing his PhD in Media and Cultural Studies at the University of Nairobi. Before joining the academia, Mr Nyanoti practised journalism for 17 years at Kenya Times, Standard Group and finally at Nation Media Group, where he edited The EastAfrican.
He studied at the Royal College (UK) and at the University of Nairobi.
David Makali
Rebecca Muniu
Makali is currently the director of Media Institute; the editor of Expression Today media review and The Bulletin e-letter. He is also a columnist for The Star newspaper and political analyst on Citizen TV’s Sunday Live, and the weekly political talk show, Cheche.
Ms Muniu currently heads the Communication department at UNDP’s Amkeni Wakenya. She has vast experience in media and development, having served in different capacities in the areas of governance and Human Rights in Kenya. She started off as a reporter for the Kenya News Agency before joining the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights as an advocacy officer. She later led the advocacy and outreach programme at the Governance, Justice, Law and Order Reform Programme, where she among other things oversaw the Marekebisho Media Awards. She has also served as a reports officer for the World Food Programme in Somalia. Ms Muniu holds a Masters degree in of International
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He previously worked as an investigative reporter (The People, 1992-1994), associate editor (The Option, 1995-6), managing editor (The Nairobi Law Monthly, 1997-1998), columnist (Daily Nation, 2001-2003), and managing editor (The Sunday Standard, 2003-2005). Makali was the founding chairman of the Kenya journalist of the year awards (1999) and has been involved in numerous initiatives to advance excellence in journalism and press freedom. He chairs the legal affairs committee of the Kenya Editors Guild and was the founding chairman
ANNUAL JOURNALISM EXCELLENCE AWARDS (AJEA) 2012
Before then, Ms Nguku was the co-founder and CEO of Eastern Broadcasting Corporation that gave birth to Mbaitu FM Radio Station. She started her career at Kenya’s first private TV station (---KTN) where she was for 13 years, rising through the ranks from a junior reporter to Alternate News Editor.
of the Eastern Africa Editors Forum and member of the executive committee of the African Editors Forum (TAEF).
He has been a judge of the annual human rights awards of the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, the Citibank Journalism Fellows program tenable at Columbia University and Spread the Love social responsibility awards, among others.
She holds a Master of Arts degree in Contemporary Warfare and Peace from the University of Sussex, UK and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communication and Community Development from Messiah College, Pennsylvania, USA.
He is a recipient of the Fr. John Kaiser Human Rights Award by the Law Society of Kenya (2005) in recognition of his role in promoting human rights and the rule of law through journalism.
Greg Adambo
Among other international engagements, Makali has been a member of the Governing Council of the International Freedom of Expression Exchange, IFEX, and since 2008 the Alternate Africa representative to the Steering Committee of the Global Forum for Media Development.
Mr Adambo is currently a Media Consultant in Kigali, Rwanda and an independent film maker. After graduating from University of Nairobi in 1973, he trained in Radio, Film and Television at the Kenya Institute of Mass Communication and thereafter in Britain, Japan and Mexico. He was also awarded study tours to USA, Germany and Italy.
Makali is a graduate of political science (Moi University) and journalism (University of Nairobi and Columbia University School of Journalism, NY).
He spent most of his employed time at Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) where for four years he headed the Sports desk.
Jared Obuya Obuya has 15 years of experience working for the local and international media. He currently teaches journalism and media studies at the Department of Communication Studies of Moi University. His research interests are media accountability.
Before his current engagement, Mr Adambo was a media consultant at URTNA (Union of Radio and Television Organizations of Africa - now known as Union of African Broadcasters or UAB); a visiting lecturer at the Kenya Institute of Mass Communication; and one of the coordinators at the Kenya International Film Festival (KIFF).
Christine Nguku
Ms Christine Nguku is a seasoned media professional with 17 years of experience. She is currently a Communications and Journalism lecturer at Kenya Methodist University.
He produced and directed Kenya’s first television soap opera ‘Tushauriane’, and was a lead actor in Kenya’s first locally made movie ‘Kolormask’. He has adjudicated in several Kenya Schools and Colleges Drama Festivals..
She is also a consulting manager for seven FM radio stations targeting marginal areas in Kenya
and owned by a Christian organization. She is responsible for developing and executing the implementation strategy for the stations, developing the capacity of staff and drawing a value proposition for the viability of each of the stations.
Ms Nguku is one of the lead consultants for the Centre for Strategic Development (CSD) where she is in charge of media and communications. Through CSD, she is part of the team tasked with developing a communication strategy for the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA).
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ANNUAL JOURNALISM EXCELLENCE AWARDS
ANNUAL JOURNALISM EXCELLENCE AWARDS (AJEA) 2012
Awards ceremony held on 4th March 2012 at the Hilton Hotel, Nairobi.
Journalists at the Annual Journalism Excellence Awards ceremony, also attended by Minister for Information Mr Samuel Poghisio and PS Dr Bitange Ndemo, sponsors of the event namely UNDP, UNESCO, CCK, and Ford Foundation, awards judges, MCK board of directors, editors, journalism lecturers and other media stakeholders, at the awards ceremony held at Hilton Hotel, Nariobi, on 4th May 2012. The Guest-of- Honour at the ceremony was Deputy Speaker Mr Farah Maalim. 14
ANNUAL JOURNALISM EXCELLENCE AWARDS (AJEA) 2012
Awards ceremony held on 4th March 2012 at the Hilton Hotel, Nairobi.
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ANNUAL JOURNALISM EXCELLENCE AWARDS
ANNUAL JOURNALISM EXCELLENCE AWARDS (AJEA) 2012
AJEA winners with their trophies and certificates at the awards ceremony held at the Hilton Hotel, Nairobi, on 4th May 2012, to commemorate the World Press Freedom Day.
P.O. Box 43132, 00100, Nairobi, Kenya +254 (0) 20 2725032/2737058 +254 (0) 727 735252 info@mediacouncil.or.ke www.mediacouncil.or.ke 16