By Collins Wanzallah
Court reporters have elected new officials to run their organization. The Court Reporters Association of Kenya (CRAK) election was held last Saturday in Nairobi, where two seats were contested while the other posts were filled unopposed.
During the election, Susan Muhindi of Star newspaper was elected chairperson, while Caroh Kubwa of People Daily was elected as the organization’s treasurer. The following were unopposed: Dzuiya Walter of Royal Media Services (Vice Chairperson), Sam Kiplagat of Nation Media Group (Treasurer), Ghetto Radio’s Reporter Rodgers Oduor Vice-Treasurer, and Standard Newspaper’s Kamau Muthoni is the chief whip. The election was conducted by Star editor Jillo Kadida, a former court reporter.
Present during the election was the association’s patron, Supreme Court Judge, Justice Isaac Lenaola. In their inaugural addresses, the new leaders promised to steer the association to the next level and instil professionalism in court reporting.
Journalists have different associations in a sector facing challenges and dwindling advertising revenue fortunes, especially the print media, due to digital interruption. There have been big layoffs in the media lately, with several companies failing to pay their employees on time. Media companies attribute the nonpayment to the lack of remittance from the government through the Government Advertising Agency (GAA), which used to source and place advertisements in different media houses.
Among associations formed by scribes are the Photojournalists Association of Kenya (PAK), whose President is Thomas Mukoya of Reuters; the Editors Guild of Kenya, headed by Zubeida Kananu Koome of KTN; and the Crime Journalists of Kenya (CJAK), whose Chairman is Zadock Angira of People Daily. The Sports Journalists Association of Kenya is headed by People Daily sports editor James Waindi, and the Parliamentary Reporters Association is led by Duncan Khaemba of NTV.
