Former NTV journalist Evelyn Watta was on Wednesday morning elected vice president of the International Sports Press Association (AIPS) at the global organization's annual congress in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
The Kenyan sports journalist won the election after receiving 90.8% of the votes which ranked her the highest among the six candidates who were fighting for four slots at the 80th congress of the AIPS on Friday.
Watta while speaking to a local daily expressed her excitement stating that her election was proof that Kenyan sports journalism is alive and kicking.
"This is a great honor for women sports journalists and also for young sports journalists. I'm honored and the hard work now begins. It also goes to show that Kenyan sports journalism is high up there with the rest of the world," Watta stated.
The former NTV journalist who is also the treasurer of the Sports Journalists' Association of Kenya (SJAK) now becomes the first African to be elected vice president of the old global organization and also only the second woman ever to sit in the executive as vice president.
The sports journalist was accompanied by SJAK president Chris Mbaisi, Secretary Mike Okinyi and Organizing Secretary Vereso Mwanga.
Watta's election comes only a few months before Kenya hosts the International Association of Athletes Federation (IAAF) World Under-18 Championships that will be held in Kasarani from July 12 to 16 at the Moi International Sports Centre.
Ms Watta is known for her role in the NTV sports desk where she was a sports anchor and at the Sports Journalists' Association of Kenya (SJAK) where until her election she was serving as treasurer.
Here is a photo of Watta after the election:
