Crime Journalist Association of Kenya Elects New Council

The Crime Journalists Association of Kenya (CJAK) on Saturday during its Annual General Meeting (AGM) elected new officials from it’s over 40 members across the country.

CJAK will now be chaired by seasoned Crime, Security and Investigative reporter Zadock Angira who works for the People Daily.

Akello Odenyo, who is a journalist with The Star Newspaper will be CJAK’s Secretary General.

Other leaders elected into office include; Ghetto Radio’s Investigative Journalist and Producer Judy Kanaitha, who will serve as Vice - Chairperson, Nation Media Group Journalist Manase Otsialo who will serve as Deputy Secretary General and KTN New’s Fred Kagonye who will be the association’s Treasurer.

The new council will serve for a period of two years.

“It is a great honour to lead distinguished security journalists as their chairperson. The new council will build on the foundation that has been laid by the inaugural leadership. We will continue to promote quality journalism and enhance accountability while championing for peer review amongst our members and contemporaries,” said Angira, CJAK Chairperson.

Akello Odenyo, CJAK’s Secretary General said that she would continue to promote the welfare of security journalists across the country while seeking to work and collaborate with like-minded partners to enhance the association’s programmes that include providing training opportunities for its members as well as education scholarships.

“CJAK has always championed the rights of its members and by extension journalists in Kenya. Alongside the council, we will strive to seek opportunities that will be beneficial to our members in order to allow them to thrive in their respective fields,” said Odenyo.

The Inaugural CJAK council led by former chairperson and Investigative journalist Dominic Wabala, led the team for at least four and a half years.

Wabala, who is also a founding member of the association alongside outgoing Secretary General Joseph Muraya, NMG’s Mary Wambui, Former K24 TV Journalist Shukri Wachu and BBC’s Mel Myendo spearheaded the institutionalizing of the association as well as enhancing its partnerships with several state and non-state actors.

“Serving as Chairperson of CJAK for the last four and a half years was quite the experience. I am happy that we managed to launch the association and support our members through the various programmes we had. CJAK is truly a great family with distinguished journalists and we hope the association continues to scale greater heights,” said Wabala.

The Inaugural council oversaw the launch of the association on March, 4, 2021 in an event graced by Cabinet Secretary Joe Mucheru, Former DCI boss George Kinoti, Media Council of Kenya CEO David Omwoyo among others.

The inaugural council was also able to set up a bimonthly Mental Wellness programme, where Security journalists who are the most affected by acts of violence while in the line of duty are given a platform to seek counselling services and support.