Zubeidah Kananu retains KEG presidency in tightly contested election
Ms Zubeidah Kananu of the Standard Media Group speaking after she retained her seat as President of the Kenya Editors Guild (KEG) on May 24, 2025. Photo/Videograb
Zubeidah Kananu of the Standard Media Group has retained her seat as President of the Kenya Editors' Guild (KEG) following a tightly contested election held on Saturday.
Ms Kananu garnered 72 votes, defeating Royal Media Services’ Yvonne Okwara, who received 58 votes.
The election, which drew editors from across the country, also ushered in a mix of new and returning figures into key leadership positions within the Guild.
Presiding officer Sophie Kaibiria, while announcing the results, confirmed that Ms Kananu’s deputy, Francis Openda of Radio Africa Group, was among six(6) candidates elected unopposed. Others elected without contest included:
Kenfrey Kiberenge – Online Media Representative
Millicent Owuor – Television Representative
Linda Bach – Print Representative
The three(3) trustees--Ruth Nesoba, Martin Masai, and Ng’ang’a Mbugua--were also declared elected unopposed.
In the Academia category, Dr Julius Bosire of the Technical University of Kenya emerged victorious in a contest against Nathan Musambu.
Meanwhile, the race to represent radio journalists saw a tight contest between former KBC editor Toepista Nabusoba and Agnes Mwangangi, with the latter winning 65 votes to 59.
The elections marked a pivotal moment for the Guild, with members calling for renewed commitment to editorial independence, professional development, and solidarity, especially in the face of growing pressure on press freedoms.
In conceding defeat, Ms Okwara congratulated the incoming leadership and reaffirmed her commitment to the Guild’s values, stating that her candidacy was never about personal victory.
> “This race was never about winning for its own sake,” she said. “It was about restoring something that matters — our voice, our standards, and our shared future.”
Ms Kananu now embarks on her second term at the helm of KEG, with a renewed mandate to strengthen institutional credibility and champion press freedom at a time of significant transformation in Kenya’s media landscape.
