John Kamau wins top journalism award with coffee stories

John Kamau of Daily Nation was voted as the Media Council of Kenya (MCK) Journalist of the year for 2016 in awards that were dominated by Nation Media Group journalists.

Mr Kamau, known for his historical pieces and lately investigative stories, was judged the best at the 5^th Annual Journalism Excellence Award (AJEA) 2016 for his series of stories on the woes facing the coffee industry in Kenya, which coincided with the World Press Freedom Day.

The judges, in picking Kamau, noted that the writer exposed a network of international firms seeking profits, crooked regulators and local businesses that has conspired to take farmers hostage and deny economy billions of dollars. The journalist, who was last year  November moved from Business Daily to Daily Nation, also received the Business Reporting Award of the Year, beating seasoned business journalists at their own game.

“There are many fine journalists out there doing management work rather than writing,” Kamau, known by his colleagues as JK, told Business Today. “I think editors should lead from the front and be remembered by what they have written or researched on. Managing writers and content comes as a bonus.”

While the AJEA awards are viewed by critics as a PR stunt for the Media Council of Kenya, they still command some bragging power in the media fraternity, but are often overshadowed by the CNN Multichoice African Journalist Awards. Some say these awards, among others, have turned journalists into trophy hunters at the expense of professionalism where many tailor their journalistic work for particular recognition.

But that doesn’t mean winners don’t have to walk tall. “Overall, I feel thrilled that I got an opportunity to do some writing,” said Kamau, who is now acting Special Projects Editor, after the acrimonious exit of Dennis Galava early this year. “Thank you to my sources in the coffee industry. I hope you will get reward for your troubled toil.”



FULL LIST OF THE 5^th  ANNUAL JOURNALISM EXCELLENCE AWARDS (AJEA), 2016 2016 FINALISTS

Development Reporting Award

Print:

1. Chepkoech Anita – Business Daily (Winner)
2. Moses Odhiambo – Business Daily (1st Runners Up)
3. Vincent Achuka – Sunday Nation (2nd Runners Up)

Broadcast: Television

1. Violet Otindo & John Kamau – K24 (Winners)
2. Alex Chamwada – CHAMS Media/KTN (1st Runners Up)
3. Agnes Penda & Moses Baya – (2nd Runners Up)ICT and Telecommunications’ Reporting Award

Print:

1. Sarah Ooko – Business Daily – (Winner)

Broadcast: Radio

1. Ruth Keah Kadide – Radio Rahma (Winner)
2. Albert Mwangeka – Baraka FM (1st Runners Up)
3. Carolyne Bii – Daystar Shine FM (2nd Runners Up)

Broadcast: Television

1. John Juma & Edmond Oduor – KTN (Winners)
2. Ronald Owili – KBC (1st Runners Up)
3. Salome Muiruri – K24 (2nd Runners Up)

Gender Reporting Award

Print:

1. Verah Okeyo – Daily Nation (Winner)
2. Angela Oketch & Derick Luvega – Daily Nation (1st Runners Up)
3. Kamau Muthoni & Fred Makana – The Standard (2nd Runners Up)

Broadcast: Radio

1. Ruth Keah Kadide – Radio Rahma (Winner)
2. Joseph Jira – Baraka FM (1st Runners Up)
3. Victor Moturi – Pamoja FM (2nd Runners Up)

Broadcast: Television

1. Mercy Juma Okande & Adrams Mulama – NTV (Winners)
2. Shadrack Samini Mitty & Paul Kerama – QTV (1st Runners Up)
3. Francis Ontomwa & Job Edmond– KTN (2nd Runners Up)

Environment Reporting Award

Print:

1. Wanjohi Kabukuru – New African Magazine (Winner)
2. Moraa Obiria – Daily Nation (1st Runners Up)
3. Bernadine Mutanu – (2nd Runners Up)

Broadcast: Radio

1. Ali Maingu – Radio Salaam (Winner)
2. Robert Juma – Radio Mambo (1st Runners Up)
3. Diana Wanyonyi – Baraka FM (2nd Runners Up)

Broadcast: Television

1. Alex Chamwada – CHAMS Media/KTN (Winner)
2. Violet Otindo & John Kipchumba –– K24 (1st Runners Up)
3. Sharon Baranga & Eric Isinta – NTV Kenya (2nd Runners Up)

Sports Reporting Award

Print:

1. Isaac Omulo Okoth – Fever Pitch (The Standard) – (Winner)
2. Timothy Olobulu – AIPS Magazine (1st Runners Up)
3. Verah Okeyo – Daily Nation (2nd Runners Up)

Broadcast: Television

1. Edmond Nyabola & Steven Mwei – NTV Kenya (Winners)
2. Wahiga Mwaura & Michael Okinyi – Citizen TV (1st Runners Up)
3. Joshua Makori & Steve Mwei – QTV (2nd Runners Up)

Health Reporting Award

Print:

1. William Inganga – The Star (Winner)
2. Rebecca Okwany – Daily Nation (1st Runners Up)
3. Leonard Onyango – Daily Nation (2nd Runners Up)

Broadcast: Radio

1. Brian Osweta – Baraka FM (Winner)
2. George Otieno – Radio Citizen (1st Runners Up)
3. Agnes Mukonza Mtengo – Sheki FM (2nd Runners Up)

Broadcast: Television

1. Marie Yambo & Anthony Muhatia – (Winners)
2. Eunice Omollo & John Gitonga – QTV (1ST Runners Up)
3. Evelyne Wambui & Paul Chirchir – Citizen TV (2nd Runners Up)

Business Reporting Award

Print:

1. John Kamau – Daily Nation (Winner)
2. Wanjohi Kabukuru – New African Magazine (1st Runners Up)
3. Paul Wafula – The Standard (2nd Runners Up)

Broadcast: Radio

1. Joseph Jira – Baraka FM (Winner)
2. Carolyne Bii – Daystar Shine FM (1st Runners Up)
3. Oscar Nyoha – Baraka FM (2nd Runners Up)

Broadcast: Television

1. Duncan Khaemba & Edwin Mwai – K24 (Winners)

Good Governance Reporting Award

Print:

1. Abiud Ochieng’ – Daily Nation (Winner)
2. John Kamau – Daily Nation (1st Runners Up)
3. Leornard Owino Onyango – Daily Nation (2nd Runners Up)

Broadcast: Radio

1. Solomon Zully – Radio Salaam (Winner)
2. Josephat Kioko – Baraka FM (1st Runners Up)
3. Ruth Keah – Radio Rahma (2nd Runners Up)

Broadcast: Television

1. Zubeida Koome & Moses Mweri Baya – KTN (Winners)
2. Duncan Khaemba & Edwin Mwai – K24 (1st Runners Up)
3. Mashirima Kapombe & Brian Mulindi – KTN (2nd Runners Up)

Cartoonist of the Year

1. Erick Ngammau – The Standard (Winner)
2. Samuel Muigai – the Standard (1st Runners Up)
3. Stanislaus Olonde – The People (2nd Runner Up)

Photographer of the Year Award

1. Cheboite Kigen – Daily Nation (Winner)
2. Thomas Mukoya – Reuters News Agency (1st Runners Up)
3. Denish Ochieng – Standard Newspaper (2nd Runners Up)

Cameraperson of the Year Award

1. Eugene Osidiana – K24 (Winner)
2. John Kamau – K24 (1st Runners Up)
3. Jane Mbuba – NTV (2nd Runners Up)

Journalist of the Year Award

1. John Kamau – Daily Nation

Lifetime Contribution in Journalism Award – Veteran Category

1. Salim Lone
2. Dorothy Kweyu