Journalists in Turkana County have welcomed a decision by the government and Media Council of Kenya (MCK) to give them facemasks and sanitizers.
The National government through the office of the Deputy County Commissioner (DCC), Alexander Mativo on Wednesday distributed some masks to journalists in recognition of their role as essential service providers.
“We appreciate the work of the media and we are also keen to support them with the little we get even as we consider vulnerable people,” said Mativo.
The county government issued some hand sanitizers to journalists which were part of a donation to the county from the UNHCR last week.
The County Executive Committee member for Health, Jane Ajele acknowledged the role of the media in combating Covid 19 pandemic.
“We are aware that journalists are exposed to this disease because they interact with many members of the public on a daily basis.
“We are planning to hold a training for journalists on preventive measures against Covid 19 as well as how to better disseminate information on health matters,” said Ajele.
The Media Council also donated 20 litres of hand sanitizers for journalists in various counties among them Turkana.
“We are very grateful for this donation, it is shows that we are together with other colleagues in the fight against Covid 19,” said Wycliffe Masinde, Turkana county Maata Radio Manager.
Hesbon Etyang, a correspondent with The Star newspaper also welcomed the support from government and the MCK.
“We are grateful for this support and ask other partners to consider the media equally as they consider health workers and the security officers and other vulnerable people,” said Etyang.
Other counties that have benefited from the Media Council support of sanitizers are Isiolo, Kwale and Marsabit.
By Peter Gitonga
