Standard Media Group’s Zubeidah Kananu has successfully retained her seat as President of the Kenya Editors Guild (KEG), following a hotly contested virtual election held on Saturday, May 24, 2025.
Kananu, an accomplished journalist and media leader, secured 72 votes, narrowly defeating Citizen TV’s Yvonne Okwara, who garnered 58 votes. Her re-election signals continued confidence in her leadership from the media fraternity at a time when the industry faces both challenges and opportunities in the digital era.
The newly elected team features a blend of experienced professionals and fresh voices from various media platforms. Francis Openda will serve as the Vice President, providing strategic support in advancing the Guild’s mission of defending media freedom and editorial independence in Kenya.
Other officials elected include Agnes Mwangangi as the Member for Radio, Julius Bosire representing academia, Mildred Awuor for television, Linda Bach for print, and Kenfrey Kiberenge for online and digital platforms. Trustees elected to offer oversight and support include Martin Masai, Ruth Nesoba, and Mbugua Ng’ang’a.
This election follows a postponement of the initial Annual General Meeting and voting exercise slated for April 12, 2025. The process was deferred due to failure to meet the required two-thirds quorum, a requirement enshrined in KEG’s regulations. “It’s imperative that the membership gets a 2/3 threshold. As of now, it’s yet to be achieved,” noted the returning officer at the time.
KEG has consistently urged its members to participate actively in Guild affairs while upholding the core values of integrity, professionalism, and respect. The successful election marks a renewed commitment to those ideals, and the new leadership team is expected to focus on strengthening the editorial profession amid growing threats to press freedom and evolving technological landscapes.
Kananu’s win reaffirms her influential role in shaping discourse within Kenyan journalism. As she embarks on her new term, members and stakeholders alike will be watching closely to see how she steers the Guild in defending the integrity of journalism and advocating for media rights.
