Farmbizafrica was recently feted in the Africa Climate Change and Environmental Reporting media awards that were organized by the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA) and funded by United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) among other sponsors.
Bob Koigi, the lead journalist at farmbizafrica emerged among the winners for his story titled Borstal boys beat climate change with digesters. The story is about a group of youth in a correctional facility in Western Kenya who are not only reforming their characters but also reforming the adverse effects the changes in weather has created in the area through manufacturing biogas digesters that they sell to the locals. Through the project farmers have cut down use of fuel wood that was responsible for dwindling forests in the area.
Mr. Koigi’s story beat over 309 other stories that had participated in this year’s award.
15 finalists were selected from the list. “The judges were unanimous in awarding this story because it transports the reader to Western Kenya and takes you through the efforts of the borstal boys. The prowess in language and the journalist’s understanding of the subject which he then demystifies to his readers caught the judges’ attention,” said Dr. Barrack Muluka the lead judge in the competition.
The award is another feather to farmbizafrica’s cap that has continued to be awarded regionally for its indepth and detailed coverage of agriculture.
“This serves to rubberstamp the fact that we are market leaders in this space. It is tough trying to understand these subjects and break them down for the readers. Am so honoured to receive the award and want to thank the team that has been the pillar of my strength when I have needed it most. I want to thank Ms. Jenny Luesby my boss who has been so important in my career, giving me priceless ideas on how to tell the African story while remaining true to my passion. She is not just my boss but my personal friend who shares in the passion of telling the smallholder farmers story,” said an elated Bob Koigi.