Veteran Radio Citizen presenter, Vincent Ateya, has been appointment as a member of the Technical Working Group that will steer the gubernatorial, senatorial and Woman Representatives debates ahead of the August 9 General Election.
According to Gazette Notice No. 3388 of 2022 dated April 8, Ateya will be part of the 15 member team.
"It is notified for the general information of the public that the Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communication, Technology, Innovation and Youth Affairs has appointed the Technical Working Group on Community and Local Language Media Gubernatorial, Senatorial and Women Representative Debates," read the Gazette Notice signed by ICT Cabinet Secretary, Joe Mucheru.
The celebrated radio presenter is known for his command of the Swahili language and his experience spanning over a decade.
Ateya made his career debut at the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) while in his second year of study at the Kenya Institute of Mass Communication (KIMC).
After finishing school and establishing his career path at KBC, Ateya joined Family Radio and Radio 360 before joining Radio Citizen where he popularized the stations Jambo Kenya show which airs Monday through Friday from 6am - 10am.
He later moved to Milele FM then Qwetu FM where he doubled up as a presenter and programmes manager.
Ateya then returned to Royal Media Service (RMS) retaining his position as morning show host.
The Technical Working Group on Community and Local Language Media will be led by Sammy Muraya who will be deputized by Phylis Wakiaga, the Chief Executive Officer of the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM).
Other members of the technical committee include former Royal Media Services LTD Programmes Manager, Simaloi Dajom, and ex-Citizen TV news anchor Tom Mboya.
Other members are Roly Davila, Stephen Kangogo, Rose Wakio, Leo Mutisya, Susan Karago, Joel Karanja, Jonah Ngare, Kevin Nyangweso, Joseph Kipkoech and Martin Maasai.
Ateya and the rest of the team will be tasked with carrying out assessment on the ability of community and local language media stations to conduct gubernatorial, senatorial and women representative debates ahead of the 2022 polls.
The technical team will also be expected to establish and coordinate fundraising efforts and revenue sharing modalities to benefit the participating media outlets as they may agree.
Other roles include building the capacity of local journalists and media workers to hold such debates and engage development partners, government entities and any other group as they may deem appropriate.
