Media Houses across the country have been asked to consider giving special emphasis on the need for their employees, especially journalists, to be trained on conflict-sensitive reporting.
Senior Journalist Wanyama wa Chebusiri says as the country heads to the 2022 general elections, journalists need to be well equipped with skills that will ensure they report objectively, and in a manner that will not fuel conflicts that might come as a result of political differences.
Speaking in Eldoret town during a Conflict Sensitive Reporting Training for North Rift Journalists facilitated by Finn Church Aid, the former BBC journalist also expressed the need for journalists to be trained on how to ensure they are safe even when reporting in conflict areas/situations.
“Media houses must invest in training their journalists to be able to report in conflict areas and how to protect themselves but at the same time being able to perform their expected roles of journalists.”
– Senior Journalist Wanyama wa Chebusiri.
Wa Chebusiri also asked members of the community never to fear speaking to journalists.
He said journalists play many roles including being the voice of the voiceless and amplifying issues and concerns of the common mwananchi.
During the training that brought together over 20 journalists from West Pokot, Uasin Gishu, Nandi, and Elgeyo Marakwet counties, issues of how to identify conflicts, players involved, and best practices to report on conflicts were tackled.
North Rift is one of the regions that has had a number of conflicts, from the perennial Kerio Valley insecurity fueled by among others fight for resources, the boundaries row, and outdated cattle rustling, land issues to ethnic fights that usually escalate during the elections period.
