Our Vision

A better informed and knowledgeable world capable of making appropriate decisions and choices on responsible use of the environment and science.

Our Mission

KENSJA will always strive to give environment and science journalists and communicators a platform for professional development, local and international networking.

Environment and science reporting is evolving. In the age of globalisation ensured by the Information and Communication Technology wizardry, there is much new knowledge pouring from millions of research projects and studies that push the boundaries of men’s knowledge to new height, almost daily.

The changes are numerous and frequent and so specialised and difficult if not absolutely impossible for lay person to understand. From the shores of Lake Victoria to those of the Indian Ocean, from our border with Tanzania to the dry lands of North Eastern Province bordering Somalia and beyond, members of KENSJA are professionals whose mission is to tell the world about environment and science. They are journalists, editors, photographers, designers and communicators involved in environment and science communicators in the free world. Their audiences are policy makers, consumers, scientists, researchers and the general public.

The KENSJA seeks to further environment and science journalism as a bridge between science, scientists, policy makers and the public. It seeks to promote the role of environment and science journalists as key players in the comity of civilised society and democracy. The goals are to improve the quality of environment and science reporting, promote standards and support environment and science journalists in Kenya.

The KENSJA is a non-political, not-for-profit professional association mostly drawing its membership from practicing environment and science journalists in Kenya. It serves current members and reaches out to new members all over the country.

It is a volunteer organisation led by elected leaders who meets at least twice a year to conduct KENSJA business and formulate policy for its members. The organisation is supported by member-paid dues and through partner organisations

The KENSJA was seeded on February 2, 2007 in Nairobi by journalists who were attending the Commonwealth Press Union (CPU) Environmental Reporting Training Course that ran from January 29-February 2 under John Vidal, The Guardian [UK] Environment Editor.

The founding chairman was Ochieng’ Ogodo. It was founded as a result of the realisation that journalists practicing in the two areas had no platform where they could share and talk about their own developments as journalists and also to promote environment and science journalism in the country, and beyond.

It did not however pick up immediately for various reasons; top among them the disinterest or lackadaisical performance of some of those who were given the mandate of steering it. It entered into a state of inactivity thereafter.

But in late 2008 some of the original founders under Ogodo decided to revamp and give it a new direction. This saw the entry of some of the most outstanding environment and science journalists in Kenya like Mwendwa Kiogora, Pamela Asigi, Joe Ageyo, Bahati Wanjala and Duncan Mboya, just to mention a few.  The common intent was to try to talk – and not only to talk, but also to work together – after this severe inactivity in the past.

Since then it has been making dramatic strides, adding several members. One of the most important things is to bring synergy between all members and to also bring them together to discuss and debate ideas and trends on where environment and science communication is going.

The future is in good hands because it is the convergence point for experienced and new young committed member journalists with more keen on joining the organisation. And that’s extremely encouraging.