This archive report was first published on 12 May 2020.
As the Covid-19 pandemic continues to spread, Kenyan journalists have shown solidarity with their colleagues who have been financially affected by the crisis.
On May 12, 2020, a group of journalists from Nyanza came together to contribute funds to assist those who have been impacted by the pandemic.
According to Luke Awich, one of the coordinators, the group identified journalists who work as correspondents and have found it difficult to continue working due to the lack of network in their areas.
“Imagine if one is a correspondent and lives and works in parts that there is no network, how are they going to file their stories? If one can’t file a story, that means at the end of the month there will be no pay,” said Mr. Awich.
The group has so far assisted 22 beneficiaries from Kisumu, Migori, Siaya, Homa Bay, and Nairobi counties.
Mr. Awich stated that they hope to distribute more funds to other members who have been affected and are organizing another funds drive by the end of May.
“I know what we did was small and we didn’t reach out to everyone who might be affected, but we hope that by the end of the month, we will have raised more funds than we did in April,” he said.
Kenyan journalists, like the rest of the workforce, have been severely impacted by the pandemic, with many media houses implementing pay cuts or suspending benefits.
Media houses such as Nation Media Group, Royal Media Services, and Radio Africa Group have announced temporary pay cuts for their employees, with some workers facing reductions of up to 30%.
As the pandemic continues to affect the country, Kenyan journalists are coming together to support their colleagues and mitigate the impact of the crisis.
