By Jorai Wekeza, Baraka Simba, Patrick Otieno
It is a new turn for journalism students from different colleges in Eldoret after they were issued with press cards from the Media Council of Kenya (MCK).
The students received the cards on Tuesday, March 26, 2024.
Benjamin Cheruiyot is among the students who gathered at the Kenya Institute of Mass Communication (KIMC) Eldoret campus for the exercise.
Cheruiyot who is pursuing Broadcast Journalism at The Eldoret National Polytechnic said the press card was important to him as an upcoming journalist.
“It will also protect my rights as a journalist hence enabling me to gather information from sensitive areas as I practice my career,” he said.
Marion Kipnusu, a digital journalism student further said issuance of the press cards was a good move by the Media Council of Kenya.
Access to events for journalism students
She said the MCK press card would help her have access to many events, providing an opportunity to explore and get information.
Marion is preparing to go for an industrial attachment due to start in May.
“It’s an important thing for the students pursuing Mass Communications to be issued with press cards because it’s the only way for them to be identified as journalists,” said Angela Mbuga, a lecturer at The Eldoret National Polytechnic, who had accompanied her students.
The lecturer shared similar sentiments with the students on the importance of having press cards.
She said with the card, the students will have access to information and events.
However, Marion challenged the students to utilize the MCK cards to better their future journalism careers.
The Media Council of Kenya usually issues student press cards to journalism students going for internships, 4th-year undergraduate students and 3rd-year Diploma students.
The cards are valid for a year.
