NTV news anchor Dennis Okari has won in the Annual Journalism Excellence Awards (AJEA) 2021.
During the 9th Edition of Annual Journalism Awards (AJEA) on Tuesday, May 4, Okari was issued the Health Reporting Award following the Red Alert feature he highlighted in 2019.
The NTV journalist had been placed in the category with Citizen TV's Waihiga Mwaura and KTN's Timothy Otieno, who were also in the same category.
The red alert feature shed light on supermarkets in Nairobi that were using toxic chemicals to make meat on display look fresher.
Okari spoke in confidence to a number of workers whose disclosed that meat in the supermarkets was laced with high levels of Sodium Metabisulphite.
The exposé caused a stir online with the government bowing to the pressure that ensued.
The government, through the then Health CS Sisily Kariuki, stated that the ministry officials had collected samples from various outlets for analysis and further directed all county public health departments to undertake heightened surveillance in all supermarkets.
Citizen TV's Waihiga won the investigative award for the Mara Heist feature while KTN's Otieno won the journalist of the year award in the TV category.
Other journalists who won awards include; Daniel Kaburu, Maurice Oniang'o, Ruth Keah, Mercy Tyra, Yahya Mohammed among others.
Chief guest and Acting Lady Justice Philomena Mbete Mwilu celebrated journalists noble contribution in the society. She added that the media has an active role in tackling misinformation through verification and ensuring accuracy.
“As we celebrate the work of journalists today we can’t ignore the difficulties they face in gathering and disseminating information.
"I join all Kenyans in celebrating journalists, especially those who will receive awards for we all know the risks you go through to acquire information, she said.
{"preview_thumbnail":"/files/styles/video_embed_wysiwyg_preview/public/video_thumbnails/DemO-BWzFXA.jpg?itok=qhZCl3ns","video_url":"
