Nairobi News

Nation Media Group journalists posted a strong showing during this year’s journalism awards by taking the crown in nine of the 14 categories set by the Media Council of Kenya.

Of the 40 winners announced during the Annual Journalism Excellence Awards (Ajea) in Nairobi on Wednesday night, 14 came from Nation’s journalists from its print and broadcast divisions. No other media house managed more than eight winners across the categories.

The media council honoured print and broadcast journalists separately in most of its categories during its sixth year of the awards.

In the print section, Nation journalists who took the crown are Leopold Obi, Eunice Kilonzo, Verah Okeyo, Angela Oketch, Phoebe Okall and cartoonist Michael Munene.

Leopold Obi was the first to head to the podium after winning the Development Reporting Award in the print category for a DN2 story he did on fishing in Lamu Island.

Then Eunice Kilonzo followed as a winner in the ICT and Telecommunications Reporting Award for her story in Healthy Nation about the health hazards associated with smartphones.

In the Gender Reporting Award, Vincent Achuka, who has since left Nation, was the overall winner with his story published in the Sunday Nation about the plight of children whose mothers are serving time in prison.

Another former Nation journalist who scooped an award was Isaac Swila, who came tops in the Sports reporting category thanks to a story about the Kenya Premier League published in the Daily Nation.

Writer Verah Okeyo also shone in the Environment Reporting Award, taking the crown following an article about the role of bees and in the survival of mankind.

TOP PRIZE

Angela Oketch’s story in Business Daily on how the lack of the uterine balloon tamponade to stop bleeding among mothers who have just given birth took the crown in the Health Reporting Award Category.

And photojournalist Phoebe Okall’s spectacular images from various parts of the country not only drew applause from those who attended the event at The Intercontinental Hotel in Nairobi but also saw her walk home with the trophy in the Photojournalist of the Year Award.

Equally, there were cheers from the hundreds who attended the gala night when images drawn by Nation Media Group’s cartoonist Michael Munene were displayed on the screens as he walked to the dais to receive his trophy in the Cartoonist of the Year Award.

In the broadcast category, a number of NTV journalists also bagged the top prize.

Andrew Ochieng and Robert Gichira were the winners in the Gender Reporting Award while Dennis Okari and Eric Isinta took the crown in the Sports Reporting Award, thanks to an investigative project about how Kenyan athletes are being swindled dry by cunning people.

Zeynab Wandati and Robert Gichira bagged the Business Reporting Award for a story about the factors ailing Kenya’s sugar industry.

Nation Media Group’s Editor-in-Chief Tom Mshindi hailed the winners for the magnificent win.

“Both our NTV Kenya and print journalists swept the deck and stamped their authority and dominance on the profession. Well done to each one individually, and to all collectively,” he said.

Nation Media Group’s general manager in charge of television, Mr Linus Kaikai, was equally thrilled.

“Truly, that was an unprecedented trophy harvest; a just reward for the hard work and professionalism for our journalists. Hearty congratulations to all the winners!” he said.

GOOD STORYTELLERS

The awards were given for stories published between March 2016 and March 2017. Dr Nancy Booker, the chair of Ajea’s panel of judges, said the media council received 700 entries, a drop from 900 last year.

“This was as a result of some of the categories being merged so as to ensure that entries were submitted in the right categories,” she said.

Dr Booker said the six-member panel worked for up to 16 hours a day for six days to come up with the list of finalists, sifting through the entries that have been handpicked by a separate nomination panel.

She said the factors used to determine winning entries included relevance, adherence to ethical principles, sourcing and impact.

“In some instances, arriving at the ultimate winner was not an easy task. On several occasions, it took long hours of debate, arguments and counter-arguments, re-reads, reviews to determine who the winner would be,” she said.

Dr Booker, a senior lecturer at Aga Khan University, asked the media council to consider introducing categories for stations that broadcast in vernacular and for Web-based publications.

She challenged the winners to strive to do even better.

“Remember, you’re a first among equals and that you’re just as good as your last story. Winning is one thing; but for you to retain that position is another thing because there are very many good storytellers among us,” said Dr Booker.

Chief Justice David Maraga, the chief guest of the night, had a similar message.

“I congratulate them wholeheartedly and urge them not to relent from pursuing further distinction. They should know that the most difficult record to beat is one’s own as a top performer,” he said.

WINNERS’ LIST

Development Reporting Award

Leopold Obi – Daily Nation (print category)

Mashirima Kapombe and Moses Baya – KTN (TV category)

ICT and Telecommunications Reporting Award

Eunice Kilonzo – Daily Nation (print)

George Otieno – Radio Citizen (radio)

 Gender Reporting Award

Vincent Achuka – Daily Nation (print)

Mercy Murengu – Upendo FM (radio)

Andrew Ochieng and Robert Gichira – NTV (TV)

Environment Reporting Award

Verah Okeyo – Daily Nation (print)

Ali Maingu – Radio Salaam (radio)

Gladys Kigo and David Kabiruh – Citizen TV (TV)

Sports Reporting Award

Isaac Swila – Daily Nation (print)

Dennis Okaru and Eric Isinta – NTV (TV)

Health Reporting Award

Angela Oketch – Daily Nation (print)

Victor Moturi – Ebru TV (TV)

Business Reporting Award

Diana Wanyonyi – Baraka FM (radio)

Zeynab Wandati and Robert Gichira – NTV (TV)

Good governance Reporting Award

Vincent Achuka – Daily Nation (print)

Joseph Jira – Baraka FM (radio)

Africa Uncensored (John-Allan Namu, Sam Munia, Elijah Kanyi, Kassim Mohamed)

Media Freedom Award

Diana Wanyonyi – Baraka FM (radio)

Francis Ontomwa, Francis Mutalaki and Edmond Oduor – KTN (TV)

Photographer of the Year Award

Phoebe Okall – Daily Nation

Cartoonist of the Year

Michael Munene – Nation Media Group

Cameraperson of the Year Award

Edwin Mwai – K24

Journalist of the Year

Africa Uncensored – (John-Allan Namu, Sam Munia, Elijah Kanyi, Kassim Mohamed)

Lifetime Contribution in Journalism Award – Veteran Category

1. Leonard Mambo Mbotela
2. Elizabeth Omollo