'Nation' writers take top energy awards
David Herbling (pictured) of the Business Daily won the overall energy journalist of the year award. Mr Herbling was also declared the winner under Geothermal Power Generation category.
Nation business writers took most of the top honours in the inaugural Energy Journalism Excellence Awards held on Friday.
The group of 13 writers were awarded in all 11 categories in the competition organised by the ministry of Energy and Petroleum and its line parastatals.
Speaking at the event, Energy minister Davis Chirchir called on editors to see to it that journalists specialise in reporting on the sector.
“We need editors to encourage journalists to specialise in energy reporting. Energy sector is huge,” said Mr Chirchir.
David Herbling of the Business Daily won the overall energy journalist of the year award. Mr Herbling was also declared the winner under Geothermal Power Generation category.
His story- ‘Kenya targets green energy’ published in August last year on Business Daily won him the prize. The category was sponsored by Geothermal Development Corporation.
The story looked at the ambitious geothermal power generation at Olkaria in Naivasha. It sought to weigh the magnitude of the project which envisioned doubling the country’s steam power output to 478 megawatts by September 2014.
The same story won Mr Herbling the coveted energy journalist title. Allan Odhiambo, Business Daily and Immaculate Karambu of the Daily Nation also won in their categories.
Ms Karambu won in Oil and Gas Downstream Category for the story published July last year in the Daily Nation named ‘Running on empty: Oil firm on verge of collapse’.
The article highlighted the plight of one of Kenya’s second largest oil marketer Kenol Kobil that was reported to be on the verge of collapse due to failure to be allocated fuel products from the refinery.
The company is associated with former powerful Cabinet minister Nicholas Biwott
Mr Odhiambo won in Nuclear Electricity category for his piece titled ‘Lessons for energy-thirsty Kenya from South Korea economic transformation’ that seeks to en courage the Kenyan government to emulate its model to scale up energy production in Kenya.
Peterson Wanjiru, Michael Amos and Kennedy Senelwe all from The East African excelled as Power Infrastructure reporters.
Gerald Andae of Business Daily, Joshua Masinde, Zeddy Sambu, John Njiru, Joyce Kimani, Steve Mbogo and Wanjohi Kaburuku were runners up.
“We want to appreciate journalists and congratulate all who have done well,” added Mr Chirchir. The EJEA had 34 finalists.
Winners were given trophies, laptops, certificate and cash prizes. The Kenya Power will sponsor the category winners for an energy reporting course in South Africa. Mr Odhiambo will be taken on a two weeks nuclear study to Chicago, USA courtesy of Kenya National Nuclear Electricity Board. Mr Herbling on the other hand will go to Vienna, Austria.
Other winners were Standard Media group, KBC and Radio Salam. Standard won in five categories while Radio Salam was the second overall winner.
