NAIROBI, Kenya – Zubeida Kananu is keeping her seat at the top of Kenya’s editorial guild after winning re-election as president of the Kenya Editors Guild (KEG).
Kananu, who doubles as a senior editor at Standard Media Group, pulled ahead with 72 votes, edging out her closest rival, Citizen TV’s Yvonne Okwara, who garnered 58 in a hotly contested virtual election held on Saturday, May 24, 2025.
The re-election not only secures Kananu another term but also signals continuity for KEG at a time when the industry is facing questions about press freedom, professionalism, and unity.
Fresh Faces, Familiar Challenges
Francis Openda was elected as vice president and will now serve alongside Kananu in leading the guild’s new-look leadership team.
Also stepping into new roles are Agnes Mwangangi, elected as Member for Radio, and Julius Bosire, who will represent the academia docket. On the broadcast side, Mildred Awuor will handle television matters while Linda Bach takes charge of print media. Kenfrey Kiberenge will represent the digital and online platforms—a space that’s growing fast and full of disruption.
The guild also appointed Martin Masai, Ruth Nesoba, and Mbugua Ng’ang’a as trustees, entrusted with steering the organization through policy and accountability frameworks.
The fresh lineup arrives at a time when the journalism landscape is undergoing rapid transformation, with legacy and digital media trying to coexist under financial pressure and political scrutiny.
Delayed but Determined
Interestingly, this election didn’t happen on its first try.
The guild’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), originally scheduled for April 12, was postponed after a quorum was not met. According to the returning officer, the event couldn’t proceed legally without two-thirds of the members present—a requirement KEG had to take seriously to maintain its credibility.
“At the time, the threshold hadn’t been achieved. We needed a proper way forward,” the officer explained, discouraging the continuation of the process without fulfilling legal obligations.
The delay, however, may have worked in the guild’s favor. When voting finally took place, participation surged online and the event moved forward without a hitch.
A Call to Integrity and Leadership
With the elections now behind them, the Kenya Editors Guild is focusing on its core mission: defending press freedom and upholding ethical journalism.
Kananu’s victory reaffirms her influence in the editorial space, but it also signals a clear expectation from KEG members—for their leadership to be both bold and grounded in integrity.
In its recent communique, the Guild urged members to remain engaged and to champion professionalism and mutual respect—values that are increasingly under the microscope in today’s highly politicized media climate.
