Zubeidah Kananu Reelected President of Kenya Editors Guild After Tight Race
Zubeidah Kananu has been re-elected as the president of the Kenya Editors Guild after a close election against Yvonne Okwara. Kananu secured 72 votes compared to Okwara’s 58. Francis Openda was elected unopposed as Vice President, and various other positions were filled. The new leadership will focus on sustainability and advocacy for press freedom amid current challenges faced by the media.
Zubeidah Kananu has been re-elected as President of the Kenya Editors Guild (KEG) following a closely contested virtual election on Saturday. Kananu, representing the Standard Media Group, managed to edge out Citizen TV’s Yvonne Okwara by a narrow margin, securing 72 votes to Okwara’s 58. This marks Kananu’s second term in office, as she pledges to continue addressing the challenges faced by the media in Kenya.
In the election, Francis Openda from Radio Africa Group was elected unopposed as her Vice President. Various other key positions were also filled; Agnes Mwangangi from the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation won the Council Member for Radio seat, beating Toepista Nabusoba. Meanwhile, Dr. Julius Bosire from the Technical University of Kenya, who won against Nathan Masambu from Daystar University, will now represent academia on the council.
Several positions were filled unopposed, including Millicent Awuor (Council Member for Television), Linda Bach (Print Representative), and Kenfrey Kiberenge (Online Media Representative). Additionally, Ruth Nesoba, Martin Masai, and Ng’ang’a Mbugua were also elected as trustees without contest. The election process was supervised by Sophie Kalbiria, who is an advocate and a member of the Law Society of Kenya.
The departing council, which was previously led by Kananu, consisted of Vice President Ruth Nesoba, council members including Awuor, Nabusoba, Bach, Francis Mureithi, and Prof. George Nyabuga. Ahead of the elections, the Guild acknowledged the tough reality facing Kenyan media today. This spans aggressive competition from digital platforms, layoffs in newsrooms, and decreasing advertising revenue.
The newly elected leadership faces the daunting task of steering the sector toward greater sustainability and innovation. Their focus will involve advocating for fair compensation from technology platforms, pushing regulatory reforms to protect press freedom, and promoting digital transformation within newsrooms. According to a statement from the KEG, “The Kenya Editors Guild remains committed to championing media sustainability, fair compensation for journalism in the digital economy, and the protection of press freedom.”
In summary, Zubeidah Kananu’s re-election as the Kenya Editors Guild president highlights the ongoing commitment to addressing the multiple challenges facing the media sector. With her new term, she and her team will focus on sustainability, innovation in journalism, and ensuring the protection of press freedoms in an evolving digital landscape. This election not only signifies a continuation of leadership but also a call to adapt to the rapidly changing media environment in Kenya.
Original Source: eastleighvoice.co.ke
