Zubeidah Kananu has been re-elected as President of the Kenya Editors Guild, defeating Yvonne Okwara in a close election. Kananu will continue as president with Francis Openda as Vice President. The leadership faces significant media challenges, including competition from digital platforms and declining revenues. The KEG is focused on advocating for press freedom and sustainable media practices in the digital age.
Zubeidah Kananu has been re-elected as the President of the Kenya Editors Guild (KEG) following a competitive election that took place virtually on Saturday. Kananu, representing the Standard Media Group, secured her position with 72 votes, narrowly surpassing her nearest opponent, Yvonne Okwara from Citizen TV, who received 58 votes. This second term will enable her to continue leading the organization amidst various challenges faced by the media in Kenya.
In this election, Kananu will be joined by Francis Openda from Radio Africa Group, who was elected unopposed as Vice President. Other significant council positions saw Agnes Mwangangi of Kenya Broadcasting Corporation emerge victorious for the Radio seat, ousting Toepista Nabusoba. Additionally, Dr. Julius Bosire from the Technical University of Kenya was selected as the Council Member representing academia after edging out Nathan Masambu of Daystar University.
Several other key roles were filled without contest, including Millicent Awuor as Council Member for Television, and Linda Bach as the Print Representative. Kenfrey Kiberenge has taken on the role of Online Media Representative. Furthermore, Ruth Nesoba, Martin Masai, and Ng’ang’a Mbugua were also elected as trustees, unopposed, ensuring continuity in leadership.
The election saw thorough oversight by Sophie Kalbiria, an advocate and member of the Law Society of Kenya. The outgoing council, which Kananu led, included prominent figures such as Vice President Ruth Nesoba and council members from diverse media backgrounds.
Prior to the election, the Kenya Editors Guild expressed significant concerns regarding the current media landscape, highlighting issues such as tough competition from digital platforms, layoffs in newsrooms, and dwindling advertising revenues. The newly elected leadership’s challenge will be to innovate and uphold sustainability in the media sector.
The KEG has outlined key priorities for the incoming term: advocating for fair compensation from tech companies, pushing for regulatory reforms to safeguard press freedom, and steering digital transformation within newsrooms. “The Kenya Editors Guild remains committed to championing media sustainability, fair compensation for journalism in the digital economy, and the protection of press freedom,” they stated. The focus will certainly be on navigating these pressing concerns going forward.
Zubeidah Kananu’s re-election emphasizes the need for strong leadership in the Kenyan media landscape, which is experiencing profound challenges. Her commitment to sustainability and press freedom will be critical as she embarks on her second term, along with a restructured council tasked with modernizing the industry amidst fierce digital competition and financial pressures. The new leadership’s success will heavily depend on how effectively they can advocate for journalistic rights and adapt to the evolving media environment.
Original Source: eastleighvoice.co.ke
