This archive report was first published on 21 May 2020.
On April 21st, 2020, the Media Council of Kenya (MCK) launched a Health Reporting Grant initiative in collaboration with the Open Society Initiative for Eastern Africa (OSIEA) to support journalists in covering the Covid-19 pandemic.
Veronica Bosibori King'oina, a Nakuru-based reporter, and Ann Mwangemi, a Nairobi-based journalist, were among the 500 shortlisted journalists who will receive grants of between Sh.1,000 to Sh.25,000 to facilitate their reporting.
The grants aim to empower journalists to carry out their work in the challenging environment of depressed incomes and economic activity caused by the pandemic.
According to David Omwoyo, the MCK CEO, the Ministry of Health's intervention measures and guidelines on the control of the virus have had an effect on the work of journalists, and they need a lot of backing to realize their objective.
Ms. King'oina expressed gratitude for the honor bestowed upon her by the MCK, saying that winning the MCK sponsorship was not easy since many journalists applied.
She noted that she might have had an upper hand since many Kenyan journalists hardly take much interest in science reporting despite that being what a third country requires most.
Ms. King'oina also highlighted the challenges she faces in reporting on the pandemic, including the lack of understanding and appreciation by the public on scientific solutions, which leads them to accept auxiliary theories, rumors, and speculation more easily than facts.
She emphasized the importance of approaching the disease as a means of protection against the highly contagious pandemic rather than a punishment from the government.
Ann Mwangemi, who is based in Nairobi, expressed confidence that she is up to the task and thanked MCK for the opportunity.
She underscored the role of the media in sensitizing the public on the dangers of the deadly disease, mode of infection, spread, prevention, as well as playing the part of link between the public and the experts.
