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Kenya

Capital scoops coveted awards

NAIROBI November 21 – Capital FM was on Thursday night feted at a colourful Kenya Media Network Award Gala Night after scooping two excellence awards in advocacy journalism.

Capital Newsteam Senior Reporter Judy Kaberia and Editorial Director Michael Mumo carried the coveted Best Radio Journalist awards in Reproductive health and Population Development reporting categories respectively.

In an interview, exuberant Judy Kaberia recounted her experience and sternly underscored the need to provide leadership in health related issues.

 “I am so excited to have won this award,” Ms Kaberia said.

She passionately spoke of her encounter with the cruel darkened world of reckless lives, narrating the ills brought to fore by the illegal ‘over-the-counter’ dispensing of contraceptive pills.

“I decided to write about how contraceptive pills are being abused because shockingly, not the NGOs, the government, or the manufacturers care whether the pill is being abused,” she regretted.

Her feature, ‘Morning after Pill, spoiling years after’ aired on Capital FM and was published on the Capital News Website two months ago, drawing attention from policy makers and other interested parties and eventually sparking off a campaign against abuse of the drug.

Ms Kaberia noted there was rampant drug abuse among young people especially in family planning and she is advocating for immediate intervention.

Responsible leadership

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Resplendent Michael Mumo, equally happy of his achievement, generously shared his experience in covering the story that won him the award and called for responsible leadership from politicians.

Mr Mumo wrote a moving story about the predicament of a family at a camp in Nakuru displaced by the post poll violence. He expressed concerns about increased tendencies of ‘abdication of duty’ by politicians at the expense of their subjects.

He said: “I think the government has been slow in resettling displaced people and addressing this issue.”

The Capital Group Editorial Director was quick to impress upon fellow journalists to take up advocacy issues and take politicians to task over their duties saying it is a prudent role for the Fourth Estate.

“I think the media has taken a bashing for a very long time and from the very same politicians. Politicians are very friendly to us when we are writing positive stories about them, but the moment you take them to task, you become their enemy,” he said.

Kenya Media Network on Population and Development (KEMEP) which organised the Awards is a two-year old association of journalists dealing in advocacy journalism on issues affecting communities.

During the ball officiated by Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi, ten journalists out of 53 entrants were awarded for their exemplary work in advocacy journalism.

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