“Go forth…” Laikipia County citizen journalism training ends

By Godfrey Ndonye

After three days of intensive training, the Laikipia County citizen journalism course ended on 24^th July, 2014, right on schedule.  It was held at Olympia Hotel in Nyahururu town. Almost to a participant, there was a nagging feeling of inadequacy for the task the ‘graduands’ were being charged with by the trainers.

Trainees were drawn from organizations implementing natural resources management (NRM) and sustainable land management (SLM) activities in Laikipia County. It was delivered by Arid Lands Information Network (ALIN) with financial support from UNDP under their Global Environmental Facility (GEF) Small Grants Programme (SGP).

The trainees wanted much deeper coverage and more practical sessions. Some topics like information gathering techniques; interviewing; writing, editing and reviewing articles; media laws and ethics were relatively easy to learn. It was not so with photography, however. Online journalism, or blogging, presented an even greater challenge. Mr. Bob Aston, ALIN’s citizen journalism trainer, had to go over the theory and practical session again and  again.

The Deputy Director of ALIN, Mr. Anthony Mugo assured the participants that the training they had received would do for the envisaged task. He remarked that it may not be easy to learn in three days, in their circumstances, what is learnt in years at tertiary institutions. In any case, he went on, ALIN and the participants had developed a joint work plan that will require that they communicate every week. This will present opportunities for participants to seek solutions to any problems they may have, both from the trainers and also their fellow trainees.

By the time the closing prayers were called, the participants had already begun to feel like they might actually be ready. The trainers’ words, auras and demeanour seemed to seek to adapt President Obama’s clarion call to his fellow American citizens: Yes You Can. And, indeed, the group left not only with the basic knowledge of citizen journalism but, more important, the confidence that “they can”.

This training could not have come at a more opportune moment. The nascent County Government cannot have room for any wastage of resources and opportunities resulting from duplication of development efforts.  Oftentimes, different agents may fund similar projects in the same communities even if at different times. This underscores the import of the initiative taken by ALIN to the County Government.

Information sharing on development projects, the type and stages of completion, in any corner of the county, will prevent duplication of projects and keep all partners and stakeholders focused ahead. ALIN has graciously committed themselves to assisting the county achieve this goal.

The County Government of Laikipia was represented by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (NRM) in the person of Godfrey Ndonye. The Department with therefore be running this blog with ongoing technical support by ALIN.

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