Kenya Insights

Tag: Yvonne Okwara

  • Standard Group’s Kananu Secures Second Term as Kenya Editors Guild President

    Standard Group’s Kananu Secures Second Term as Kenya Editors Guild President

    Standard Group journalist Zubeidah Kananu has been re-elected to serve a second term as President of the Kenya Editors Guild (KEG), defeating Citizen TV’s Yvonne Okwara in a closely contested race.

    Kananu secured victory with 72 votes against Okwara’s 58 votes during the guild’s elections held on Saturday, cementing her leadership position in Kenya’s premier editors’ organization.

    The re-elected president will be deputized by Francis Openda from Radio Africa Group, who was elected unopposed to the deputy president position.

    In her victory speech, Kananu emphasized continuity and unity, pledging to build on the achievements of her first term while maintaining the guild’s core values of courage, inclusivity, and dedication to press freedom.

    “Over the past term, we have journeyed together through both challenges and triumphs—raising our voices to defend press freedom, promote ethical journalism, and champion the welfare and safety of our colleagues,” Kananu stated, acknowledging the collective efforts of guild members.

    The Standard Group journalist, who also serves as a KTN news anchor, promised to work collaboratively with all members regardless of their media house affiliations or backgrounds, reinforcing that unity remains the organization’s greatest asset.

    Zubeidah Kananu
    Zubeidah Kananu.

    Several other executive positions were filled during the elections, with some going unopposed while others saw competitive races.

    Nation Media Group’s Kenfrey Kiberenge secured the Online category position unopposed, alongside Linda Bach of People Daily for Print and Millicent Awuor of KBC for Television.

    The Radio category witnessed a competitive contest where KBC’s Agnes Mwangangi defeated incumbent Toepista Nabusoba. In academia, Dr. Julius Bosire from the Technical University of Kenya prevailed over Daystar University’s Nathan Masambu.

    The three trustee positions were filled unopposed by Ruth Nesoba, Martin Masai, and Ng’ang’a Mbugua.

    In a gracious concession, Okwara accepted the election outcome while reaffirming her commitment to the journalism profession.

    Citizen TV's Yvonne Okwara
    Citizen TV’s Yvonne Okwara

    “I concede the election for President of the Kenya Editors’ Guild, with a full heart and with deep respect for the democratic will of the membership,” she stated, pledging continued support for editorial independence and professional integrity.

    The guild also approved the establishment of a Constitutional Review Committee during a Special General Meeting.

    The nine-member committee, chaired by Nation Media Group’s Public Editor Pamella Sittoni, will collect and consolidate member proposals for constitutional amendments.

    Kananu’s re-election represents continuity in leadership for KEG as it continues advocating for press freedom, ethical journalism standards, and the welfare of media practitioners across Kenya’s diverse media landscape.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

  • Kenya Kwanza turning guns on Azimio friendly journalists

    Kenya Kwanza turning guns on Azimio friendly journalists

    Royal Media Services (RMS) has been in panic mode since President William Ruto was sworn in with broadcast’s owners finding themselves holding the short end of the stick.

    RMS owner, Dr. S.K. Macharia has taken a low profile as he pays the cost of backing Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Alliance presidential candidate Raila Odinga in the last elections.

    President Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza administration is tightening its noose on RMS management and exerting pressure to have its top journalists who were perceived as pro-Raila and anti-Ruto during the campaigns kicked out.

    The government’s prime targets are editorial director Linus Kaikai, news anchor and talk-show host Yvonne Okwara and reporter Stephen Letoo who were anti-Ruto in the run-up to the last general elections.

    Ruto administration is determined to have the three fired from Citizen TV as one of the toughest conditions it has set to Royal Media Services to bag advertising and other deals from the government.

    RMS is already feeling the heat with reliable sources reporting that advertisements from the State and related agencies are on a serious decline.

    Dr. Macharia was recently forced to plead with RMS advertisers in efforts to retain them and expand their numbers.

    “We are delighted to break bread with our clients as we endeavor to offer the best partnerships and collaborations.” RMS stated in a breakfast meeting.

    But Linus Kaikai and Yvonne Okwara have specifically been earmarked for their roles in promoting Azimio’s agenda and suppressing the coverage for Dr Ruto/ Kenya Kwanza Alliance in the newsroom.
    And Yvonne is also being targeted for how she handled Ruto during the presidential debate which was boycotted by Raila Odinga.

    The regime of the day argues that though Ruto debated against himself after Odinga’s boycot, Yvonne Okwara who was among the journalists picked to manager the interview “unfairly” treated Ruto by asking him tough questions that left him contradicting himself.

    Kaikai got the powers to frustrate Ruto’s covering after he was made RMS’s Editorial Director in March 2022 following Joe Ageyo’s exit Citizen TV. His position gave him in sweeping powers over election coverage and he openly favored Azimio over Kenya Kwanza especially through ‘Newsgang’, a programme which he used to critique Ruto.

    But cornered RMS is now left with fewer options given that government is the biggest advertiser and reliable revenue stream. Dr. Macharia will be forced to axe Kakai, Okwara and go the Nation Media Group direction.

    NMG has bended to Ruto’s demand by making editorial changes which saw Mutuma Mathiu being dropped from the position of editor-in-chief and Bernard Mwinzi from managing daily news.

    The regime’s tough stance on media signals tough times ahead for big media in Kenya, with experts seeing attempts of arm-twisting by the government, a move which is expected to constrain freedom of expression.