By Kilimo News Reporter
Kilimo News writer Suleiman Mbatiah was among the top winners at the Nakuru Journalists Association’s (NJA) second annual Gala and Awards dinner held on Friday, 5th Dec 2025, evening at the Sarova Woodlands Hotel in Nakuru City.
Mbatiah clinched the Conservation Reporting Award for his strong coverage of agroecology and environmental issues, especially his steady work in highlighting the need for sustainable farming practices.
His winning story, published earlier this year, examined the legal battle mounted by smallholder farmers against restrictive provisions in the Seed and Plant Varieties Act, which had criminalized saving, sharing, exchanging, or selling farm-saved seeds, a long-standing tradition in Kenyan farming.
On November 27, 2025, the High Court in Machakos declared the contested sections of the law unconstitutional, marking an important victory for farmers’ rights and seed sovereignty.
“I dedicate this award to smallholder farmers, Seed Savers Network–Kenya, and Greenpeace Africa for their courageous fight against this oppressive law,” Mbatiah said.
He added that he is confident the government’s expected appeal against the ruling will also fail.
In an unexpected turn, 15 petitioners, including some smallholder farmers, have since appealed the High Court ruling. They argue that the judgment misinterpreted constitutional protections, undermines farmer autonomy, and could widen state and corporate control over seed markets.
Now in its second year, the NJA Gala has quickly become a key event in the regional media calendar, celebrating excellence in governance, climate reporting, environmental conservation, and digital innovation.
NTV’s Ruth Sarmwei was the night’s biggest winner, taking home Journalist of the Year and the Governance Reporting Award for her investigation into how rising water levels in Lake Baringo have disrupted learning in riparian communities.
Bret Sanya of Mtaa Wangu, a regional digital platform under Nation Media Group, won the Digital Storytelling Award for his creative use of podcasts and interactive formats.
Standard Media Group photojournalist Kipsang Joseph was named Photographer of the Year, with judges praising his ability to capture raw emotion and detail from Nakuru’s anti-government protests mid this year.
Environmental reporting also stood out during the event. Enaeli Mlinga of MBCI Radio won the Climate Change and Energy Reporting Award.
The NJA Ambassador Award went to Ruth Ng’ang’a of County Digital for her integrity, professionalism, and steady support for the association, including timely payment of her monthly subscriptions.
The NJA Training Committee was also recognized as the Best Committee for its teamwork and the impact of its regular workshops and training programs for members.
