Kenya: Bishops appoint woman editor to national paper

Catholic bishops in Kenya have appointed Mrs Judith Shikanda as editor in chief of their monthly newspaper, the National Mirror. Mrs Shikanda is a graduate of the University of Nairobi, where she trained as a journalist. She brings in a wide range of editorial experience to the paper, having worked in various capacities and places, including the New People Media Centre, rum by Comboni missionaries congregation in Nairobi, Kenya. - Mrs Shikanda, who will oversee the entire editorial work of the monthly church newspaper, will operate under the direction of Father Martin Wanyoike, the national executive Secretary for the catholic bishops' commission for social communications and the director of the church's Radio Waumini, 88.3 FM, based in Nairobi. Mrs Shikanda becomes the second editor in chief of the publication, founded in the year 2000. She succeeds Charles Arasa. Meanwhile Radio Waumini Training Centre on August 7 graduated its second lot of trainees in its three-month intensive course in mass media communications. Seven participants, drawn from various dioceses in the country were awarded certificates on completion of their course. Address the granduands, secretary general to the Catholic bishops, Fr Vincent Wambugu called on them to use the knowledge and the power imparted on them by their lecturers and become responsible and useful journalists in the society. Observing that the world was fast becoming secular, Fr Wambugu said the Church was in great need of Christian journalists, who, he added, would make a difference in the society by helping in streamlining the morality in the society today. He also urged the new graduates to set good examples to young people, who would become journalists in the future. Father Wanyoike, the Radio Waumini director paid tribute to the Radio founder and first director, Father Renato Kizito-a Comboni Missionary, whom he said had the dream of starting a training Centre. He also commended the Catholic bishops for their financial and moral support for the training program.