Nation’s Moraa Obiria shines at JHR media awards
Moraa Obiria (right) with Nation Media Group Gender Editor Dorcas Odumbe at the Journalism Human Rights Awards ceremony at a Nairobi hotel, last month. Ms Obiria was the print category winner.
What you need to know:
- Ms Obiria won in the print category during the inaugural annual excellence journalism awards hosted by the Journalists for Human Rights-Kenya project, Voice for Women and Girls Rights.
- Hot on her heels was the Star newspaper senior digital reporter, Nancy Agutu.
- Kenya Broadcasting Corporation reporter and anchor Serfine Achieng’ won the TV category with her story on the pains of infertility in parts of Nyanza ad Western Kenya.
Nation Media Group journalist Moraa Obiria’s star shone bright at the journalism excellence human rights awards held at a Nairobi hotel late last year.
Ms Obiria won in the print category during the inaugural annual excellence journalism awards hosted by the Journalists for Human Rights-Kenya project, Voice for Women and Girls Rights.
Her story was on cross-border female genital mutilation between Kenya and Tanzania.
The enthusiastic gender reporter said she drew her inspiration from the need to drive inclusive development by telling gender-sensitive and balanced stories.
2017 award
In 2017, she won the impactAFRICA for her investigative story on challenges women with disabilities face while seeking maternal health services.
She was also the first runner-up in Usawa Awards by the National Gender and Equality Commission last year. The award recognises organisations and individuals who make efforts in championing gender equality and inclusion in Kenya.
“I am humbled by this award. It came after doing a lot of research, consulting with people who understand what you are doing and the fact that the JHR training had a direct impact in my story-telling,” she said.
Hot on her heels was the Star newspaper senior digital reporter, Nancy Agutu, who has created a niche for herself in writing in-depth features on health, gender and human-interest stories.
Kenya Broadcasting Corporation reporter and anchor Serfine Achieng’ won the TV category with her story on the pains of infertility in parts of Nyanza ad Western Kenya.
Radio Rahma business editor and news anchor Nuru Mwaliumu won the radio category award.
Annual event
Speaking to The Voice, the journalism team lead at the JHR-Kenya, Mustapha Dumbuya, said he was elated by the kind of stories contestants submitted, adding that the awards will be annual.
“The awards particularly target JHR-trained journalists across the country to acknowledge excellent reporting on human rights and governance issues affecting women and girls,” he said.
The winners were selected by a wide array of judges, mostly veteran journalists, including Macharia Gaitho, Jamila Mohamed, Samuel Maina and Njeri Rugene, as well as a few people from the NGO side.
Public Service and Gender CAS Beatrice Elachi, who graced the ceremony, said the government had taken interest in highlighting gender issues and pledged to support such ventures in the future.
