Five Kenyan journalists short-listed for CNN Africa awards

Five Kenyan journalists are among the finalists in the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist 2015 Competition which were announced today.

The Standard newspaper has produced two journalists – Paul Kalemba (popularly known as Maddo)  and Kiundu Waweru,  who are attached to The Standard on Saturday. The other Kenyan journalists are George Oduor Otieno of Baraka FM and Enock Sikolia and Charles Kariuki of NTV.

The awards, now in the 20th year, will be held in Nairobi in October 2015. This year the competition received entries from 39 countries across the continent, including French and Portuguese speaking Africa, ending up with 31 finalists from 15 countries:

1. Fiifi Essilfie Anaman, Freelance for zonalsports.com, Ghana
2. Benedicta Asiimwe, Freelance for Daily Monitor, Uganda
3. Femi Asu, Punch Newspaper, Nigeria
4. Domingos Bento, redeangola.info, Angola
5. Thomas Naadi Bitlegma, Viasat1, Ghana
6. Sheriff Bojang Jnr, Freelance for West Africa Democracy Radio, Senegal
7. Ruth Butaumocho, The Herald, Zimbabwe
8. Ibrahima Diallo, Radiodiffusion Télévision Sénégalaise (RTS), Senegal
9. Adewale Olugbenga Emosu, tribuneonlineng.com, Nigeria
10. Chahinaz Samir Gheith, Freelance for Al-Ahram Hebdo, Egypt
11. Carla Gonçalves, A Nação, Cape Verde
12. Boldwill Hungwe, Zimbabwe Independent, Zimbabwe
13. Ibanga Isine, Premium Times Newspaper, Nigeria
14. Paul Kelemba, Freelance for The Standard on Saturday, Kenya
15. Deo Gratias Tchédé Kindoho, Radio Bénin, Benin
16. Julie Laurenz & Jacqueline Jayamaha, Freelance for e.tv, South Africa
17. Petride Mudoola, Freelance for Sunday Vision, Uganda
18. Abubakari Akida Mussa, Mtanzania Newspaper, Tanzania
19. Pedro Paxi Pereira Ndoma, TV Zimbo, Angola
20. George Oduor Otieno, Baraka FM, Kenya
21. Hyacinthe Boowurosigue Sanou, L’Observateur Paalga, Burkina Faso
22. Enock Sikolia & Charles Kariuki, NTV, Kenya
23. Arison Tamfu, Cameroon Journal, Cameroon
24. Kọ́lá Túbọ̀sún, Blogger at ktravula.com, Nigeria
25. Arukaino Umukoro, Punch Newspaper, Nigeria
26. Bento Venâncio, Jornal Domingo, Mozambique
27. Herman Verwey, Beeld, South Africa
28. Kiundu Waweru, The Standard on Saturday, Kenya
29. Sarah Wild, Mail & Guardian, South Africa

The finalists will enjoy an all-expense paid four day programme of workshops, media forums and networking in Nairobi, Kenya, culminating in a Gala Award Ceremony in October 2015. In addition, winners from previous years will join this year’s finalists for a special evening to celebrate 20 years of the awards.

Tony Maddox, Executive Vice-President and Managing Director of CNN International said: “The quality and breadth of entries this year is testament to the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards’ position as the most prestigious recognition for journalism across the continent.  I salute the finalists for the great work that they have done and look forward to seeing their future achievements.”

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