'Nation' business journalists excel in energy reporting

Nation Media Group's business writers scooped most of top honours in the inaugural Energy Journalism Excellence Awards held Friday in Nairobi.

The 13 journalists, who were among 34 finalists, were honoured in all the 10 categories of the competition organised by the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum and its line parastatals lead by KenGen.

David Herbling of the Business Daily was crowned the overall Energy Journalist of the Year 2014, in addition to emerging winner under Geothermal Power Generation category for his entry ‘Kenya targets green energy’.

Speaking at the event held at the Sarova Stanley Hotel, Energy minister Davis Chirchir called on editors to see to it that journalists specialise in reporting on the sector as it was one of the most critical pillar to determine success of the country.

“We need editors to encourage journalists to specialise in energy reporting. Energy sector is huge,” said Mr Chirchir.

"We have redoubled our efforts in all energy sub sectors to ensure we have stable, competitively priced energy, that will attract investors and make Kenyan goods competitive in the international markets," he said.

Mr Herbling's story published in August last year in the Business Daily looked at the ambitious geothermal power generation at Olkaria in Naivasha and sought to weigh the magnitude of the project which envisioned doubling the country’s steam power output to 478 megawatts by September 2014.

Abdi Noor Aden from Radio Salaam was named 1st runner-up while Kiundu Waweru from the Standard Group took the 2nd runner-up position in the competition.

Other NMG writers who won prizes include Allan Odhiambo of the Business Daily for his entry in the Nuclear Electricity category titled 'Lessons for energy-thirsty Kenya from South Korea' and Immaculate Karambu, Daily Nation, for her story 'Running on empty: Oil firm on verge of collapse' in the Oil and Gas Downstream category.

Peterson Thiong'o, Machel Amos and Kennedy Senelwa all from The EastAfrican excelled as Power Infrastructure reporters for their joint entry 'All eyes on South Sudan as Kenya, Uganda push for Lapsset corridor project'.

NMG journalists Gerald Andae of Business Daily, Joshua Masinde, Zeddy Sambu, John Njiru, Joyce Kimani, Steve Mbogo and Wanjohi Kaburuku were runners-up in the various categories. 

“We want to appreciate journalists and congratulate all who have done well,” added Mr Chirchir. The EJEA had 34 finalists from 100 entries.

Winners were given trophies, laptops, certificate and cash prizes. Kenya Power will sponsor the category winners for an energy reporting course in South Africa.

Mr Odhiambo will attend a two-week nuclear study in Chicago, USA courtesy of Kenya National Nuclear Electricity Board while, Mr Herbling will go to Vienna, Austria.

Other winners were the Standard Group, Radio Salaam and KBC. The Standard won in five categories with Radio Salaam bagging one.