Kisumu: The Kenya Correspondents Association (KCA), in collaboration with ASPEN and Free Press Unlimited, is spearheading a three-year initiative to bolster investigative journalism among young journalists in Kenya. The project, titled Supporting African Future Investigative and Responsible Journalism (SAFIRI), is backed by the European Union and aims to empower 60 journalists, particularly from underserved rural areas in Nyanza, Nairobi, and the Coastal regions, with essential investigative, ethical, and leadership skills.
According to Kenya News Agency, Araka Matara, the Chairman of KCA, emphasized the importance of journalists' commitment to the project during the inaugural training workshop in Kisumu. He highlighted the critical role of investigative journalism in holding leaders accountable and stressed the importance of journalists learning self-protection techniques, given the risks involved in covering investigative stories.
Media trainer Caleb Atemi highlighted the necessity of equipping young journalists with skills to navigate the media landscape. He emphasized the importance of mentoring journalists and nurturing their writing abilities to enable them to produce impactful societal stories. His colleague, Kevine Omollo, noted the challenges faced by young journalists, such as limited time and resources, which hinder their pursuit of investigative journalism. Omollo expressed hope that the project would cultivate a new cohort of journalists capable of reporting on issues like human rights, corruption, and governance mismanagement.
Participant Victoria Magar from Busia County shared that the training provided valuable insights into investigative stories, which require extensive research and multiple sources. Future training workshops are scheduled for Nairobi and Mombasa regions between August and October 2025. Besides training, participants will receive mentorship from senior journalists and investigative grants focusing on corruption, human rights, and governance.
The project will also organize media dialogue sessions in Nyanza, Nairobi, and the Coastal regions to enhance community engagement and include women, youth, and marginalized voices. These forums aim to foster collaboration among stakeholder groups and improve appreciation of the media's role in society, promoting access to information and freedom of expression.