By Medreen Aliviza
As the nation prepares towards the august 9th general election Mtaani Radio have been following up on security of women journalist covering the elections. Mtaani Radio’s reporter Medreen Aliviza catches up with two community radio journalist, Mercy Alomba of Ruben FM and Hilda Ajema of Ghetto FM. They both covered 2013 and 2017 general elections. Their radio station is based in informal settlements of Nairobi. Ghetto FM has a strong base in Majengo. Ruben Fm covers Mukuru slums.
Mercy Alomba said has faced hostility and the ground was never fair to her while covering previous elections.
During the 2013 she was assigned to cover election stories in Kibra slums. By then she was expecting. Unfortunately due to hostility she miscourage. This she said was due to the up and down runs, in-heling tear gas and other factors.
“One day I had a short skirt and am covering a story and it was really tough on me, police officers refused to be on journalists side so it was man for himself as I was running from the teargas I just noticed my skirt is up and my body is exposed’’, Alomba said”
She further said that almost of her colleagues gave up with journalism because of the hostility she had faced doing coverage twice in Kibra.
“I learnt it the hard way this year’s general election I will be with my press card always, be on the police side but by the look of things this general election won’t be tough on us compared to the 2013/2017 once ,she added.”
This time round Female Journalists are prepared for the 2022 general elections, Hildah Ajema works for Ghetto Fm. She said her station is fully prepared for this year’s general elections.
‘’We have bought enough recorders, we have ensure all of our reporters are accredited by MCK and we are working on smoth movement.’’ Said Ajema.