Press Releases

Kenyan Journalists Sweep UNESCO Awards for HIV/AIDS Radio Reporting

(December 6) On World Aids Day (1st December) three Kenyan radio journalists - Esther Kabugi and Anthony Wafula from Radio Waumini and Jacqueline Ooko from FEBA Radio -  took the three top radio awards in this year’s UNESCO Red Ribbon Media Awards for excellence in HIV/AIDS reporting in Eastern and Southern Africa. Esther won first prize, Wafula second and Jacky third. All three journalists have been trained by Internews and produced their stories from the Internews office in Kenya. 

Esther Kabugi

Photo: Internews Network in Kenya Esther Kabugi holding her first prize award certificate from UNESCO for excellence in HIV/AIDS reporting.

Esther Kabugi hosts a weekday morning show, Rise and Shine, on Radio Waumini, a Catholic radio station based in Nairobi. Her winning story highlighted the plight of AIDS orphans and children made vulnerable by HIV.
“As I interviewed the kids at Lea Toto children’s centre, I realized just how much HIV-related stigma and discrimination these children face and how it affects their lives. As a journalist, I really wanted to reach out and make a difference by creating more awareness through my radio show,” says Esther.

“I’m happy to have a very supportive station manager, Father Martin Wanyoike.  I also got a lot of guidance from the trainers I interacted with at Internews, and I’m happy my story had a good script and great sound that actually captured the children’s voices telling their own story.”

“I’m very excited about winning this award, and will continue to do more stories to help these kids, so in need of love, care and support.”

Listen to Esther Kabugi’s story

Anthony Wafula

Photo: Internews Network in Kenya Anthony Wafula holding his award certificate from UNESCO for excellence in HIV/AIDS reporting.

Anthony Wafula hosts a weekday mid-morning show, The Break, on Radio Waumini. His piece was about transactional sex – looking into the “boda-boda” (public bicycle taxis).  He says:

“I thought of doing this story after reading of different ordeals of ‘bodaboda’ operators in the local dailies (from Internews’ AIDS clipping  book in its Media Resource Center in Nairobi.). I wanted to understand why people in Western Kenya were so vulnerable and continued to expose themselves to the risks of contracting HIV through transactional sex. Internews supported my travel grant proposal to visit Kakamega in Western Kenya and produce this feature story.”

“I learnt I needed to spend time with the ‘boda-boda’ operators in order to get a clear understanding of what they go through. After some time, it actually became apparent that they were not aware of the risks they exposed themselves to through the ‘paying in kind’ system (giving women free bicycle rides in exchange for sex).. On the Internews training I had previously attended, I had been equipped with the skills to get the right interviews and good quality sound. With a good script I knew I could paint a vivid picture in the minds of my listeners, so they too could understand the situation in Western Kenya, and why HIV prevalence rates were often reported to be on the increase in that region.”

“When I heard my name get called out amongst the winners, I was really pleasantly surprised! Winning has ‘energized’ me to continue producing stories for my station that can educate my listeners on different HIV/AIDS issues.”

Listen to Anthony Wafula’s story  

Jacqueline Ooko

Photo: Internews Network in Kenya Jacqueline Ooko, holding her award for excellence in HIV/AIDS reporting, with the Assistant Minister for Information, Koigi Wamwere.

Jacqueline Ooko doubles as a producer and news reporter at FEBA Radio, a Christian radio station. FEBA broadcasts through its sister station, Baraka FM, in Mombasa.
Her story was about diagnostic HIV testing and counseling (DCT). This was the first HIV/AIDS feature story she produced after attending an Internews training workshop.

“I was so excited that my first AIDS feature story actually won an award. This has really motivated me, and I will continue to produce good HIV/AIDS stories for my station, now that I have the skills to do so,” says Jacqueline.

“I love my work as a journalist! I think this award is just the beginning of great HIV/AIDS journalism. I’d like to do so much more for my listeners.”

“I think the judges liked my entry because my script  was short, clear and to the point.”

Listen to Jacqueline Ooko’s story

Internews Kenya provides local radio journalists with HIV feature reporting courses and supports them after trainings with free access to production facilities, mentoring, travel grants and small equipment grants. This program is made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Ida Jooste, Kenya Resident Journalism Advisor