MESHA joins Centre for Science and Environment to launch The State of Africa’s Environment report. MESHA prides itself in the great partnerships with its global stakeholders.

Kenya: MESHA set to host global agriculture journalists forum in 2025

MESHA joins Centre for Science and Environment to launch The State of Africa’s Environment report. MESHA prides itself in the great partnerships with its global stakeholders.

By Chemtai Kirui I phillykirui@gmail.com

Nairobi —  Kenya is set to welcome journalists from around the world for the prestigious International Federation of Agricultural Journalists’ (IFAJ) Congress in 2025, showcasing its pivotal role in the global agricultural journalism landscape.

The congress, organised by Media for Environment, Science, Health, and Agriculture in Kenya (MESHA) will be held in October 2025, with the themes relevant to the contemporary agricultural landscape.

The International Federation of Agricultural Journalists is a non-political, professional association for agricultural journalists and communicators, with members spread across 55 countries.

According to Aghan Daniel, MESHA Secretary, the association is currently seeking financial and technical support to enable it host the global fair for the first time in Kenya.

The event will engage various stakeholders, including agricultural journalists, scientists, policymakers, industry experts, farmers, environmentalists, and representatives from international organizations and governmental bodies.

The annual IFAJ Congresses provide a timely platform for journalists and communicators to delve into the critical issue of agriculture. By exploring the latest advancements, sharing best practices, and enabling global collaboration as a way to foster innovative solutions to the pressing issues of climate change, soil erosion, and other threats to global food security.

Mr. Philip Keitany, the Chairman of the organizing committee for IFAJ congress 2025, said: “The IFAJ Congress 2025 will contribute significantly to addressing global agricultural challenges by facilitating knowledge exchange and information sharing among journalists from diverse backgrounds and regions.”

Keitany, a renowned Agricultural Journalist in Kenya who has attended several IFAJ congresses, including those in South Africa and the Netherlands, said that Kenya hosting the 2025 IFAJ congress will raise awareness and generate public discourse on agricultural matters and help mobilize support for agricultural development initiatives and influencing policy decisions at local, national, and international levels.

“Agricultural journalists need to be actively engaged with stakeholders across the agricultural value chain, including the seed sector, farmers, scientists, policymakers, and consumers, to ensure that their reporting reflects the diverse perspectives and interests of those affected by agricultural issues,” he said, adding that congress will provide a platform for journalists to forge partnerships, form alliances, and leverage collective expertise to tackle complex issues in agriculture more effectively.

The organising committee, will undertake a series of events around the 2025 IFAJ World Congress, featuring dedicated days such as the Industrial Day, Workshop Day, Youth Day, and Tourism Day. This planned schedule ensures that attendees will have a comprehensive and enriching experience, providing a vivid showcase of Kenya’s diverse offerings.

Joyce Chimbi, a Kenyan-based journalist and communicator on science, health, and agriculture, expressed her excitement about hosting the IFAJ Congress 2025.

“Kenya is an agricultural country, as the sector is the bedrock of the economy – directly and indirectly employing millions of people across the value and or supply chain,” she said.

Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock, Mithika Linturi Development who recently opened the 24th Annual seed congress in Kenya. The ifaj2025 will be attended by many stakeholders including seed companies. Photo Credit I Aghan Daniel

“The Congress is important for this East African nation, providing a crucial platform to showcase not only its strong agricultural sector but also to spotlight best practices — particularly how the country is coping with pressing challenges such as climate change, rapid urbanization, and industrialization.”

Chimbi who writes for a number of news publications in the country and internationally noted the agriculture sector is on a crossroads and farm to fork practices must arise to meet modern challenges that are unprecedented in both form, nature, intensity and severity.

She hoped that the congress will renew focus on agriculture, often overshadowed by other topical issues such as climate, environment, and biodiversity.

“The IFAJ Congress 2025 will bring agriculture back into the spotlight in Kenya and the wider region.” Chimbi said.

“Africa is the continent with the most arable land on the planet,” said David Kazi, a seasoned journalist from Rodrigues Island, located east of Mauritius.

Kazi said that Kenya hosting IFAJ congress 2025 provides an opportunity to showcase to the world the significant strides Africa is making in the agricultural sector, specifically in advancing food sovereignty for the continent and its population.

“There are many journalists in Africa reporting about the agricultural sector as this is a major topic of their daily life and immediate neighborhood. Therefore, their works can be showcased, and their knowledge be consolidated.” He said.

Kazi, who is a fellow at the African Union, said that he hopes that IFAJ Congress 2025, “becomes a stage to not only showcase agricultural achievements but also to celebrate the journalists who play a significant role in shaping the discourse around agriculture in Africa.”

In 2025, IFAJ will celebrate its 69th anniversary since its founding in Paris, France, as the ‘Union internationale des journalistes agricoles’ (International Union of Agricultural Journalists). The organization established to provide a forum where journalists can network, exchange ideas, and practice professional development, has over 5,000 members.

MESHA has played a pivotal role in supporting agricultural journalism throughout its history. Over the past 19 years, it has been at the forefront of contributing to environment, science, health, and agriculture journalism training and mentorship in the country.

“MESHA stands out as one of the most vibrant, diverse, and sustainable gatherings of agriculture journalists.” Chimbi said.

“It is a valuable tool in advancing coverage of agriculture in a most comprehensive manner serving as a model for other regional media associations.”

This year’s annual IFAJ congress 2024 will be held in Switzerland’s Interlaken, from August 14th to 18th.

Agnes Machache displays her octopus catch

How Kenyan women are breaking taboos and thriving in the fishing industry

Agnes Machache displays her octopus catch

By Jasmine Atieno
@sparkleMine

For decades, women at the Kenyan coast have kept away from the deep waters. Taboos, both cultural and religious, banned them from fishing, forcing them to wait at the shores to buy fish, both raw and processed for resale at the markets.

“There used to be a lot of beliefs about women going to the ocean. For instance, they were afraid that some women would go into the water on their periods, and a jinni would enter her body. So most women would wait for the fishermen to bring back and we would buy from their catch,” shares Joyce Mramba, the Co-Founder of Tuna Women Group in Kipini, Tana River.

But things are changing. High poverty levels within the area drove most female fish vendors into transactional sex for fish. Anyone who does not do this  would go home with nothing. This is where Joyce came in.

In  2012, she mobilised  five other women and together, they decided to fish for prawns. Fortunately, they did not need classes to fish prawns since they had watched how the men did it. Besides, this type of fishing did not require them to go deep into the sea. Prawns do a nightly vertical migration to shallower waters at night to find prey, returning to deeper water at sunrise to hide from predators. They also migrate seasonally to breed. The best time to catch them is very early in the morning and evening when they come out to feed.

Fisher woman, Naima Omar in her line of work

Done twice a day, the fishing yields over 50 Kgs of prawns, which fetches Sh200 (USD 1.4) per kg.

“Prawns are highly preferred here and by late evening everything will be sold out. In fact, there are customers who will not get anything if they come late,” shares the business woman.

The group has since grown with 35 members, performing different tasks aimed towards empowering the women fishers group.

“Most fishermen were not very receptive to our development. Some felt we were rebelling against Islamic beliefs. To iron this out, we had to come into certain agreements such as making commitments that we wouldn’t go fishing while on our periods, and do what we need after the cycle before going back to fishing. And slowly they started accepting us,” shares Joyce.

She is also a peer influencer in Kipini, creating awareness on HIV/Aids infections among the fisherfolk at the Coast.

“A few years back, the fishermen, most of whom were contracted by big boat owners, would deliver all the catch to the boat owners, who would set high prices on the fish. This left the women desperate and some were willing to go all the way to trading their bodies. This translated to an increase of HIV/Aids infections in Kipini. But since the group of women fishers started, I have been talking to the men, showing them that this new development is a win for all of us, and their families as well,” she explains.

Joyce Mramba, member of the Tuna Women group

Mercy Mghanga, Chairperson of Beach Management Unit, and a member of the Coastal women in fisheries, an organization that represents women in fisheries at the Coast of Kenya, urged that women fishers be supported with better fishing equipment to increase their yield.

“As women, we have not been fully empowered to create employment opportunities for ourselves. We have not been enabled enough to fish to our best capacity. It’s true that the government started an initiative to train about 1,000 fisher folk every year, and yes some have been trained but still do not have the right fishing equipment,” shares Mercy.

Aside from fishing, the women at the Coast are also getting more involved in decision making processes, taking up elective seats because they also have the capacity to advocate for their rights.  Speaking on this shift in the fisheries industry, Chairman, South West Indian Ocean Tuna Forum (SWIOTUNA), Hadley Becha, says that there is need to have more capacity building initiatives and mentorship programs to fully achieve this.

“More efforts are being put in place to build the capacities of women in different areas, including legal frameworks supporting fisheries governance and management, fisheries handling and hygiene, resource mobilization financial management and also supporting women in exchange visits for peer to peer learning, but there is definitely need for more initiatives for empowerment,” said Becha.

This change of things has also improved the relationship with the men fishers who were previously their opposers.

“Most fishermen used to have a problem with women fishing but the situation is not the same today. We see how this is beneficial to the family as well. The women are able to provide financial support in the family,” shares Somo Somo, a local fisherman and boat owner.

Health journalists participate in a training exercise during a Science Café on health reporting in Nairobi, February 9, 2024. Photo credit I Chemtai Kirui

Uphold accuracy in post-pandemic reporting for better public understanding, journalists told

Members of MESHA take notes at a Science Café on health reporting, held in Nairobi on February 9, 2024.Photo Credit I Chemtai Kirui
Members of MESHA take notes at a Science Café on health reporting, held in Nairobi on February 9, 2024. Photo Credit I Chemtai Kirui

By Chemtai Kirui | phillykirui@gmail.com

Journalists have been urged to strengthen accuracy in post-pandemic reporting by relying on credible sources and contribute to a better-informed public.

The call was made during a media science café held in Nairobi on February 9, 2024. The café, which was training of journalists on health reporting with a focus on pandemic preparedness, was organised by the Media for Environment, Science, Health, and Agriculture (MESHA).

Health journalists participate in a training exercise during a Science Café on health reporting in Nairobi, February 9, 2024. Photo credit I Chemtai Kirui

John Muchangi, the Science Editor at the Star newspaper, said that there is still a lot of unexplored information on pandemics and epidemics, which can significantly increase public awareness.

“In my experience, reporting on a pandemic is a marathon without an end,” said Muchangi, who reported his continued coverage of COVID-19 with over 300 articles to his name so far.

He said that just because the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the end of COVID-19 as an international public health emergency, it does not mean that there are no stories that journalists can tell today on health concerns and other developments in pandemics or epidemics.

“People still need a vaccine, don’t they? Let’s look at malaria. The only vaccine available for malaria in Kenya now has an efficacy of about 36%. Does that mean that people should opt out because the efficacy is low?” he posed.

“If that is the only option, people will go for it, and that is where journalism comes in – letting the public know about this vaccine, where it is provided from, and how much it costs.”

Muchangi, however, urged journalists reporting on these scientific topics to check their ego and always be willing to be corrected where necessary.

“I once wrote a story where I compared one malaria vaccine with another, and reported that one vaccine worked better than the other based on the information I had at the moment,” he recalled.

“When the story was published, I got a lot of emails from concerned bodies such as the World Health Organisation, saying that the reporting was inaccurate.”

Muchangi said that the experience was disheartening since many journalists do not want to be questioned on their work, but after a lot of conversation, he realised that he had given the comparison of the vaccine based on differentiated variables and accepted his shortcomings.

Oda Audry Awino at the media science café in Nairobi, February 9, 2024. Photo Credit I Chemtai Kirui

To avoid such scenarios, Muchangi recommended that journalists stay vigilant in the dynamic landscape of science and conduct research from reliable reports such as from the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS).

Among the attendees of the media science café was Audry Awino, an 18-year-old journalism student and host at Maseno University’s radio station, Maseno Radio. She said the training motivated her to actively seek out untold stories that have yet to capture public attention.

“When Muchangi said that in the last 50 weeks, no COVID-19 cases in Kenya have been reported in the WHO database, yet Kiambu County recently reported three cases, it showed that there is a gap that needs to be addressed,” Awino said.

Godfrey Ombogo, the immediate former editor at Sayansi Magazine and a member of MESHA, delivered a presentation on writing an impactful health story.

He said that a compelling health report should be supported by credible and relevant data, as numbers play a crucial role in conveying science stories to the audience.

Members of MESHA at a Science Café on health reporting, held in Nairobi on February 9, 2024. Photo Credit I Chemtai Kirui

“When writing for Sayansi Magazine, one should have multiple sources, at a minimum three,” Ombogo said.  “The sources, including experts, government agencies and beneficiaries, will provide a comprehensive and well-rounded perspective of the story you are reporting on.”

Ombogo further encouraged the use of data from reputable sources such as WHO and United Nations, surveys, studies, and local authorities to strengthen the credibility and impact of health stories.

Nation Media Sustainability editor Zeynab Wandati makes a presentation during the trainig supported by JRS Biodiversity Foundation held by MESHA last week in Nairobi

Collaboration the next frontier in science journalism – Editor

Nation Media Sustainability editor Zeynab Wandati makes a presentation during the trainig supported by JRS Biodiversity Foundation held by MESHA last week in Nairobi

By Clifford Akumu I akumu.clifford@gmail.com

Science journalists need to embrace collaboration in telling Africa’s science story at this time when the media is struggling with profit margins and options in the digital age.

Ms Zeynab Wandati, Media for Environment, Science, Health and Agriculture (MESHA) Board member and sustainability editor with Daily Nation, has called for greater collaboration and innovation in telling the continent’s science story to beat the present challenges.

She was speaking during a Journalists Acting for Biodiversity (JAB) training organised by MESHA, with support from JRS Biodiversity Foundation.  In her presentation on how the media can sustain reporting on biodiversity, Ms Wandati urged journalists to read widely to keep abreast of what is happening around them and ensure they produce unique stories.

Noting people’s desire to understand what affects them, Ms Wandati underscored the need to put a compelling central character in each science story to boost the audience’s confidence on issues at hand. Stories that follow compelling characters, she added, help to quell fears and educate audience on complex science issues.

Bernard Risky Agwanda: Biodiversity Research Scientist, Curator, and Head of the National Taxidermy and Taphonomy Centre at the National Museums of Kenya.

“We live in a global village, hence the need to collaborate in telling science stories. As journalists, let us always be alert to our surroundings, because some stories come from the most unlikely places,” the award winning journalist told the science reporters.

She urged the trainees to focus on solutions journalism in telling the biodiversity story, stressing on the need to do so from an African perspective. “Journalists need to be exposed to the concept of solutions journalism as to aid the cause of developmental changes in society and holding power to account.”

Ms Wandati observed that indigenous knowledge is at the heart of solution stories hence the need to feature such communities that are innovating and implementing their own solutions to avoid what she called copy paste solutions.

“We need to talk about the solutions. Let us move away from relying on press releases or conferences to get sources for news. More needs to be done to inspire our audience by digging deeper into analysis of statements thrown at us,” noted Ms Wandati.

The use of data and technology such as animation in telling biodiversity stories, she added, is another niche market for journalists.

The main speaker of the day, Bernard Risky Agwanda, a scientist at the National Museums of Kenya challenged journalists to uphold responsible health and biodiversity reporting, particularly during disease outbreaks. He asked journalists to be on the lookout for stories that can help conserve biodiversity. “You need to bring out the link between biodiversity and animal diseases linked to aspects such as bushmeat consumption,” he said

Under the auspices of Journalists Acting for Biodiversity (JAB) Project, MESHA sought to mobilise local media to package and disseminate biodiversity stories that can easily be understood by policy makers, the political class and local communities in English and Kiswahili, the regional unifying language. The organisation partnered with scientists on how to communicate and network with the media, and linked them to Kenyan journalists who report on biodiversity.

“Through the JAB project, we have emphasized to journalists that products from collaborative efforts seem to give more in return as they are cost-effective and strengthen journalist to journalist relationships,” said Mr Aghan Daniel, MESHA Secretary.

Under the auspices of Journalists Acting for Biodiversity (JAB) Project, MESHA sought to mobilise local media to package and disseminate biodiversity stories that can easily be understood by policy makers, the political class and local communities in English and Kiswahili, the regional unifying language. The organisation partnered with scientists on how to communicate and network with the media, and linked them to Kenyan journalists who report on biodiversity.

MESHA members Thuku Kariuki and Anne Mikia who attended the training on biodiversity in Nairobi

“Through the JAB project, we have emphasized to journalists that products from collaborative efforts seem to give more in return as they are cost-effective and strengthen journalist to journalist relationships,” said Mr Aghan Daniel, MESHA Secretary.

Diani Turtle Watch Project Officer Demps Imai explains the history of turtle poaching and conservation in Diani, Kwale. Photo|Robert Malala

Kenya’s Fight to Save the Sea Turtles bears fruit

By Francis Mureithi
|mureithifrancis1964@gmail.com
As Atty Pye steps into one of the beachfront hotels on the South Coast in Mombasa, one may easily mistake him for an international tourist.
He heads to the reception and tells the receptionist, “I’m here to collect trash.”

Attye Pye, a sustainability expert shows some of the plastic and glass waste products he collects from the Indian Ocean in the South Coast to reduce ocean pollution.|Photo _Francis Mureithi

Man on a mission to rid Indian Ocean of plastic waste

By Francis Mureithi
|mureithifrancis1964@gmail.com
As Atty Pye steps into one of the beachfront hotels on the South Coast in Mombasa, one may easily mistake him for an international tourist.
He heads to the reception and tells the receptionist, “I’m here to collect trash.”

Joyce Mramba, Coordinator Tuna Women Group says women’s involvement in fishing has
improved their daily earnings and enhanced their livelihoods. Photo|Jamine Atieno

How communities are empowering women to engage in the blue economy

By Ruth Keah
rkeahkadide@gmail.com
In the coastal village of Kipini in Tana River County, Joyce Mramba, 55, has become a household name among the fishing community. Her mission is clear: to empower women and raise awareness to ensure they benefit from the blue economy and transform the lives of many in the predominantly Muslim community.

A section of the Mtopanga river as it drains into the Indian ocean. The river cuts through the Pirates Beach. Photo credit_Kemunto Ogutu.

Mtopanga: Breathing New Life to a ‘Dead’ River

By Kemunto Ogutu and Steve Mokaya

Over the years, Mtopanga, the only river on Mombasa Island, had become a dumping site for all manner of waste. It was an illness that flooded homes, drove out tourists, caused recurring outbreaks of waterborne diseases and left the Jomo Kenyatta (Pirates) Beach in a sorry state.