The Nation Media Group (NMG) on Friday evening scooped top honours in the Annual Journalism Excellence Awards (AJEA) organised by the Media Council of Kenya.

NMG scooped eight categories of the 11 it was shortlisted for, extending its dominance in the media industry and cementing its place as a leading news organisation.

NMG South Rift Regional Editor Brygettes Ngana and TV camera person Sam Doe won the Journalist of the Year Award, the night’s top honour that came with bragging rights.

They scooped the prize for their piece on ‘Behind the Byline’, which explored mental health challenges among journalist.

Daily Nation’s Sila Kiplagat was crowned the Photojournalist of the Year for his exceptional pictures during Kenya’s youth-led protests last year.

Ms Smriti Vidyarthi won the Best Television Production Award for her NTV Wild Talk episode on relocating rhinos.

Ms Vidyarthi’s piece was shot by Robert Gichira and Fidel Nthiga and edited by Shabach Mwaluvicho

NTV Senior Reporter Ibrahim Karanja bagged the Agriculture and Food Security Award for his piece, Sly Marikiti Brokers. The piece was shot by Fidel Nthiga and edited by Pauline Wakaba.

NMG’s Health Content Lead Angela Oketch carried the Gender and Inclusivity Reporting Award for her story, She called me half a man, turning my dream marriage to a daily horror. In the print article, Angela describes the agony that men who cannot provide for their families go through.

Ms Lilys Njeru, a health and climate reporter, won the Environment Restoration, Blue Economy and Climate Change Reporting Award for her piece Dummy’s guide to COP29 talks on global warming.

NTV Features reporter Rose Wangui bagged the Governance and Development Reporting Award for her piece Clinically Corrupt, which highlighted the shame of 50 health centres built between 2013 and 2022 in Baringo County which have been lying idle for years due to failure to send medics and medicines. The piece was shot by Wambui Kurema and edited by Pauline Wakaba.

NMG Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Geoffrey Odundo celebrated the awards, saying they were a reflection of the strength of the media house’s exceptional journalism and commitment to its mission.

“I am very proud of our team at Nation Media Group (NMG) for once again delivering excellence by winning nine awards (the most to a single media house) across multiple multimedia categories during the MCK Annual Journalism Excellence (AJEA) Awards 2025,” Mr Odundo said.

“This achievement is a true testament to the unwavering commitment to our mission: to inform, educate, and entertain while positively influencing society. The team’s dedication, innovation, and pursuit of excellence continue to set the standards for the industry something we are all very proud of,” he added.

 

Mr Odundo said that building on last year’s success, these awards highlight NMG’s ongoing commitment to producing journalism that makes a real difference in society.

“Congratulations to everyone—your hard work not only elevates our brand but also strengthens our role in the society we diligently strive to serve,” he said.

Editor-in-Chief Joe Ageyo congratulated the winners, describing the awards as a “powerful validation” of the strides made in NMG’s storytelling.

“It is yet another proud moment for NMG journalism. These awards are a powerful validation of the great strides we have made in reasserting the place of journalism in a democratic society. At a time when factual and dependable information is increasingly imperilled and in short supply, this recognition strengthens our resolve to keep going,” Mr Ageyo said.

“We are grateful to our audiences for their continued support, and we pledge to keep working with them to re-centre truth in public affairs and strengthen the state of our nation and the planet,” he added.

Ms Ngana, the Journalist of the Year, described the award as an affirmation of her 10-year journalism journey.

“I am encouraged that the stories we produce from the regions are getting national attention. I am passionate about mental health and wellness and I am thankful that the award-winning story will go a long way in creating awareness and ending the stigma and discrimination associated with mental health,” Ms Ngana said.

She thanked camera person Sam Doe, “for his commitment and skills in bringing the story to life,” News Editor Kennedy Kimanthi, and NMG Nakuru Bureau staff Patrick Tanui and Naftali Njoroge for their role in the story.

This year’s AJEA attracted 809 entries, a decline from the previous year’s submission of 1,081.

“The decline, we think, is as a result of the tumult in many newsrooms. Some media houses were adjusting their staffing levels, and some of the journalists did not have enough time to submit their entries,” veteran journalist Owino Opondo, the AJEA Awards judges’ representative, said.

Mr Opondo noted that there was a marked improvement in the quality of online stories.

“There has also been increased participation of vernacular media houses. Journalism is going to the villages. Everything is local. There have been many features done on the radio in Kiswahili. A good number of stories that were submitted were in health.” Mr Opondo said.

The team of 17 judges, he said, was looking to see whether the submission was original or ethical.

Broadcasting and Telecommunications Principal Secretary Stephen Isaboke acknowledged the economic pressure that media houses in the country are facing.

“To this end, we are exploring avenues to make sure that media houses are sustainable. I am engaging the principles across the media houses and within government to support the media houses and honouring the obligations for which you have done your work,” Mr Isaboke said in response to questions on the pending bills that the government is yet to pay to media organisations.

 

Kenya Revenue Authority chairman Ndiritu Muriithi, who was the chief guest at the event, said that it is important for the media to have the public interest at heart.

“Technology has opened up a new world. Anyone with a phone can share news but not everyone shares the truth. This is why professional journalism matters. We need trained, ethical and responsible journalists who put facts before fame,” Mr Ndiritu, a former Laikipia Governor and one-time assistant minister, said.

“Independent journalism must not be sacrificed for political pressure or profit,” he added.

Former NMG Kiswahili production editor Francis Mutegi got the Lifetime Achievement Award for his outstanding contribution and accomplishments throughout his professional career as a journalist.

Also feted a Lifetime Achievement Award was long-time President Daniel arap Moi press secretary, Lee Njiru, who also served President Jomo Kenyatta.

Mr Njiru served with Mr Moi for the 24 years he was president and later in his retirement until his death in February 2020.

Other categories where NMG journalists were shortlisted include Animal Welfare Reporting Award (Caroline Gichuki: When your pet suffers from cancer), Best Investigative Reporting Award (Simon Ciuri: The Sh720 million jobs frauds scam), and the Financial and Business Reporting Award (Patrick Alushula: Banks splash billions on tech, talent to keep fraudsters at bay).

Jocelyne Ngatambu from the Standard Media Group was feted as the Videographer of the Year for the Man eaters of Juja feature.

Full list of NMG AJEA 2025 Winners

1. Journalist of the year – Brygettes Ngana and Sam Doe
2. Photojournalist of the year – Sila Kiplagat
3. Agriculture and Food Security Award – Ibrahim Karanja (Camera: Fidel Nthiga; Video Editing: Pauline Wakaba)
4. Best Television Production Award – Smriti Vidyarthi (Camera: Robert Gichira and Fidel Nthiga; Video Editing: Shabach Mwaluvicho)
5. Environment Restoration, Blue Economy and Climate Reporting Award – Lilys Njeru
6. Gender and Inclusivity Reporting Award – Angela Oketch
7. Governance and Development Reporting Award – Rose Wangui (Camera: Wambui Kurema; Video Editing: Pauline Wakaba)
8. Health and Substance abuse reporting award – Brygettes Ngana (Camera: Sam Doe)
9. Lifetime Achievement Award – Francis Mutegi

By Caroline Wanjugu