Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir has proposed a new award category to showcase the county’s tourism, logistics, and other sectors through journalism and digital content.
The Governor made this announcement during the launch of the Media and Communication Awards (MAC) 2026. The awards are organised by Gilitics Media and the Mombasa Press Club. They will have 25 categories covering different areas of journalism and communication.
Some of the categories include Best Investigative Story, Journalist of the Year, Best NGO Digital Campaign, and Best Crisis Communication Response. The organisers said the awards will happen in stages. Submissions will open in July and August. Judging will take place in September. The public will vote in October. A workshop on journalism, digital storytelling, and AI in media will also be held before the main awards event in October or November.
The awards will be funded through sponsorship, ticket sales, and other activities. Sponsorship packages range from Sh400,000 to over Sh2.5 million. Corporate tables and individual tickets will also be available.
Governor Nassir said he wants a special category that focuses on marketing Mombasa. He noted that the county has many strengths in logistics and tourism that need to be highlighted.
“I think selling Mombasa does not mean promoting one person. We are promoting our county. Mombasa belongs to all of us,” Nassir said.
The Governor also shared his personal experience with media. He said he chose to step away from his radio station, Radio Rahma, when he joined politics. He wanted to avoid any conflict of interest. He said he still believes this was the right choice.
Nassir urged journalists to return to basic journalistic values. He warned that some media workers focus too much on being fast rather than being correct. He said they should verify facts before publishing and give proper context to stories.
“We have seen cases where we publish before checking facts. We give conclusions without full context. Sometimes we choose speed over accuracy. We must go back to the core principles of journalism,” he said.
Jomvu MP Badi Twalib said the awards come at a time when media has grown beyond traditional newsrooms. He said media now shapes how communities understand and interact with the world.
“Today, media serves as a classroom, a marketplace, a protest tool, and a lifeline. Communication connects truth, culture, and community,” Twalib said.
He told journalists and content creators that their work carries a big responsibility. He said they hold leaders accountable and give a voice to people who might otherwise not be heard.
“You do not just report on events. You shape how we see the world. You hold power responsible. You give a voice to experiences that would remain silent,” Twalib said.
He urged journalists to focus on fairness and truth rather than speed and popularity during the awards season.
“Let us tell stories that are fair, not just fast. Stories that are valuable, not just eye-catching. Stories that are true, not just loud,” he said.
Deputy Government Spokesperson Mwanaisha Chidzuga called on organisations to give journalists opportunities outside the newsroom. She said their skills in content creation, editing, photography, and videography are useful in many areas.
“Journalists do not belong only in newsrooms. We have skills and talent. We can offer advice. If your organisation has an opening, please give them a chance,” Chidzuga said.
