Nine Kenyan journalists were recently feted at a colourful event hosted by MultiChoice Kenya in partnership with the Ministry of Information Communication and Technology (ICT).
Among them was Joseph Mathenge (pictured, right), who was awarded the overall CNN MultiChoice African Journalist of the Year Award for his work ‘Images of Terror’, which appeared in The Standard and was chosen from entries spanning 38 nations across the continent.
Other journalists awarded were, Patrick Mayoyo, Evelyn Watta, Anne Mawathe, Rashid Ibrahim, Bob Koigi, John Muchangi Njiru, Christine Muthee and Oliver Oscar Ochanda. The journalists were finalists of CNN MultiChoice African Journalist of the Year competition, which was held in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania late last month.
Speaking during a breakfast ceremony also braced by past winners, ICT Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangi said: “The men and women who enter these awards have become part of a community of excellence, representing the very best in journalism and maintaining the highest standards of journalistic integrity. Their resourcefulness and bravery in pursuing the story has my deepest admiration.”
Steve Isaboke, CEO MultiChoice East Africa said: “We salute the finalists and the winners of the 2014 awards. These journalists continue to give a voice to Africa and help to make that voice heard around the world. We encourage journalists countrywide to continue to tell the stories of Africa– who knows, your story might be celebrated at the 2015 awards.”
Mr Mathenge won substantial cash prize, and a trip to CNN Centre in Atlanta to attend a three- week CNN Journalism Fellowship.
