Kisumu scribes feted for promoting peace during electioneering

Journalists in Kisumu county were among the civil society peace advocates feted for their role in promoting peacebuilding.

The journalists including Kepher Otieno of People Daily, Faith Matete (Star), David Agangu (Nam Lolwe FM), Wycliffe Odera (Milele FM) and Allan Obiero (Ramogi FM) were feted for writing stories about peace aimed at promoting peace and development.

The awards were presented to the scribes by Kisumu County Commissioner Josephine Ouko and Tim Bonke, a German Technical advisor.

Ouko asked the media to continue churning out stories aimed at promoting peace development in the mass media.

“I know that juicy stories that mostly sell are negative. But it is also your civic duty to promote peace by focusing on the positive values in the society,” said Ouko.

Sometimes, she noted that the media focuses more on the negative stories especially during the elections period.

This, she said always give them hectic time working day and night to find ways to redress the negativity in media coverage.

Ouko was happy that in the recent general election, journalists had nothing negative to write about Kisumu.

She claimed a section of the media thought Kisumu would burn. But it didn’t.

It took the intervention of Kisumu County governor Prof Anyang Nyong’o to warn against riots.

Nyong’o was quick to warn against demos immediately President William Ruto was declared President amid uproar from a section of the residents.

The awards administered by Pamoja Trust Foundations and a host of non-state actors also saw a number of civil society organizations feted and individuals who have been consistent in the promotion of peace within Kisumu County.

The organizations included Champions of Peace, Kondele Centre for Peace and Justice, Kisumu Residents Voice Association, Transform Empowerment Movement (Team) among others.

Rights crusaders and peace ambassadors Audi Ogada, Joshua Nyamori, Boniface Akach, Elly Opondo, of champions of peace, Maureen Kemunto, Michael Nyaguti, among several others, also won awards for peace drives in the county and coming up with peace and economic projects aimed at reducing criminal acts.

Pamoja Trust Executive Director Steve Kadenyo congratulated the winners and emphasized on the need to promote sustainable peace.