Kenyan Journalists Celebrated for Driving Science-Based Reporting at OFAB Media Awards.
By Peace Muthoka.
Nairobi, October 23, 2025 — Kenya’s leading science journalists were celebrated for their outstanding contributions to agricultural biotechnology reporting during the OFAB Kenya Media Awards Gala Luncheon held at The Jacaranda Hotel, Nairobi on October 23, 2025.
The event, organized by the Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology in Africa (OFAB-Kenya) and its partners, brought together journalists, scientists, and policymakers to honour the media’s role in promoting accurate, fact-based storytelling on biotechnology and national development.
Standard Group’s Rosa Agutu emerged as the Overall Winner of the 2025 OFAB Media Awards, taking home both the Television Category and the top national prize for her impactful coverage of innovations transforming Kenya’s agriculture.
OFAB-Kenya Chair and Director of ISAAA-AfriCenter, Dr. Margaret Karembu, lauded journalists for their professionalism and commitment to truth during moments of public controversy.
“In times when debates grew heated — especially after the lifting of the GMO import ban in 2012 the media stood firm as the voice of reason. Journalists provided platforms for experts to clarify facts, dispel myths, and reassure Kenyans that biotechnology offers safe and practical solutions to food and nutrition challenges,” she said.
Dr. Karembu encouraged reporters to continue using their fact-checking skills to distinguish facts from falsehoods and to strengthen public confidence in agro-innovation.
Acting CEO of the National Biosafety Authority, Nehemiah Ngetich, applauded the finalists for raising the bar in science journalism. “You have shown that science journalism in Kenya can be both gripping and accurate. To every finalist, being shortlisted is itself a mark of distinction. To the winners, wear this recognition as a responsibility to keep raising the standards for all of us,” he said.
Media Council of Kenya CEO, Dr. David Omwoyo, emphasized the importance of precision in science reporting. “The media’s work may appear straightforward, but misunderstanding science can have lasting consequences,” he said. “As we celebrate excellence in science journalism, I urge the media to sustain development narratives because science is about life, health, and security.”
The annual OFAB Kenya Media Awards aim to inspire excellence in science and innovation reporting across television, radio, print, and online platforms. By recognizing journalists who make complex science stories accessible, the awards underscore the power of informed media in shaping Kenya’s agricultural future.
Evidence-based journalism remains key to advancing Africa’s agricultural transformation and building a resilient, knowledge-driven economy.
