Connecting Brands with Audiences
By Hezron Ochiel A press release can be well written and still be ignored. During my years in journalism, I received many press releases that never became stories. Some were too promotional. Others buried the real news or sent it to journalists with little interest in the subject. Later, working in public relations, I saw […]
By Hezron Ochiel Years ago, a professional photographer visiting my village was something people took notice of. There were few cameras, fewer trained photographers and even fewer people who knew how to use them well. Today, almost everyone carries a camera in their pocket. The smartphone changed photography by making image capture widely accessible. I […]
Kenyan police clashed on Sunday with a few dozen protesters angry at a court’s confirmation of Uhuru Kenyatta as president-elect, but the unrest was minor compared with the nationwide bloodshed after the last disputed election. There was little sign of violence beyond Kisumu, a city in the west of Kenya where there is strong backing […]
Kenya is experimenting with unconventional methods to tackle high malaria rates through the piloting of mass drug administration (MDA) – treating entire communities with anti-malarial drugs, regardless of whether they have the parasite. The project is an initiative of the newly created Malaria Elimination Consortium of Western Kenya, founded in 2013 by the US Centers […]
By Hezron Ochiel Securing a decent job after graduation is the dream of many young people, and I had the same expectation. After college, I wanted to build a career in journalism, preferably with a major media organisation in Kenya. For nearly two years, I struggled to secure even an entry-level opportunity as a correspondent […]
These days you can’t turn on the news without listening to someone shifting responsibility onto someone else. Whether it’s a CEO blaming their team for a company’s poor performance, a politician deflecting economic challenges as a reason for unfulfilled campaign promises, or a parent blaming a teacher for their child’s poor grades—the blame game is […]
Strongholds of defeated presidential candidate Raila Odinga were peaceful on Sunday, apparently reflecting a desire by Kenyans to avoid a repeat of the bloodshed that followed the last election five years ago. Odinga has refused to concede the election to rival Uhuru Kenyatta, but said he would challenge the result in the courts and urged […]
Voter intimidation, expulsion threats and a rise in purchases of machetes point to violence at Kenya’s March 4 national election, a coalition of 30 Kenyan civic groups said on Wednesday. The government has promised harsh penalties for those caught inciting ethnic violence as it is anxious to avoid post-election bloodshed like that after the last […]
By Hezron Ochiel A couple of years ago, I worked with a lady who served as a project administrator and also handled reception duties. She was one of those people everyone depended on. She managed phone calls, prepared reports and budgets, attended to walk-in clients and helped colleagues with administrative tasks. She was hands-on, approachable […]
Laikipia, KENYA (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – Christine Gathoni dreamed of becoming a doctor, not a patient, grimacing in pain as she pushed her baby girl into the world. But boredom and frustration at her parents’ inability to pay for her education led her to sex, pregnancy and motherhood at the age of 19 with only […]