The Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya (CIPK) North Rift region on Saturday, April 9, 2022, supported the Uasin Gishu Journalists Association (UGJA) with donations aimed at promoting fair and ethical reporting among journalists during the electioneering period.
The North Rift Council’s chair Sheikh Abubakar Bini, while delivering the donations to be used at the Eldoret Media Hub, applauded journalists in Uasin Gishu and across the country for ensuring a vibrant society through timely reports.
“As a council, we are pleased to extend our support to the Uasin Gishu Journalists Association who are our key partners in creating public sensitization and in promotion of good governance.”
The vocal clergy also challenged the media to adhere to the Code of Conduct for Journalists and ensure fair and balanced news reporting especially to all the aspiring candidates for the various political positions, in order to ensure an informed Kenyan voter.
“We appreciate the role of journalist in elections, however, we ask of them to provide an equal platform for the aspiring candidates to sell their manifestos to Kenyans. This will ensure peaceful elections and a cohesive society even after the elections.”
CIPK pledged to provide more donations especially voice recording gadgets to enable journalists work with ease.
“I will personally continue to extend my support to journalists who at times work in very demanding conditions just to ensure Kenyans are abreast with what is happening, and I call upon other organizations and institutions to provide more support to journalist as they prepare to cover the party primaries and the August general Election,” Bini said.
The Uasin Gishu Journalist Association’s chairperson James Gitaka assured that despite the myriad of challenges, journalist will deliver on their mandate with strict adherence to the Code of Conduct for the practice of Journalists in Kenya, in a bid to promote professionalism in the media space for a free, fair society.
“We appreciate the generous support of the Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya through the North Rift Chair Sheikh Abubakar Bini who has continued to closely work with the Eldoret Media Hub that was established with the generous support of the Media Council of Kenya (MCK) and the Ministry of Information We promise Kenyans to offer balanced and fair reports all the time and especially during this elections period,” Gitaka said.
The Uasin Gishu Journalists Association through the Eldoret Media Hub has continued to partner with other institutions such as The Eldoret National Polytechnic and the Transparency International –Kenya, with an aim of mentoring young journalists as well as promoting news coverage on access to information regarding the indigent in society.
