The FarmKenya Initiative, as part of the Standard Group, produced one print story in The Standard, a news feature for KTN News and Home, and a radio talk show on both Spice FM and Maisha Radio. The content focused on correcting misinformation held by many farmers on the afforestation of exotic trees, such as the eucalyptus species, which is detrimental to agricultural productivity and a threat to livelihoods and biodiversity. FarmKenya was able to disseminate information on how farmers can minimise the effects of climate change by planting indigenous tree species or exotics with fewer effects on the environment, livelihoods and biodiversity. As a result, their coverage has helped farmers optimise their planting practices and safeguard their livelihood, while providing information that is easily understood by farming communities.

The KUJ conducted a two-day training for 20 journalists from print, TV, community radio and online media houses in Kenya. Journalists produced eight audio stories, seven articles and six videos on the effects of climate change. They were trained on how to report on issues such as food insecurity, drought, pastoral conflict, flood, deforestation and river pollution. As a result, journalists gained confidence in reporting on climate change, grew their network within different sectors of the industry and learnt how climate change affects local communities. They also learnt how climate change reporting can influence policy change and, eventually, government action.

For this project, journalists at Radio Africa Group published a series of four in-depth articles, four podcasts and four videos, exposing the link between climate change and environmental impact. It examined the effects of swelling lakes in the Rift Valley and the effects on the surrounding communities, as well as the gradual loss of wild beast migration between Kenya and Tanzania. Journalists also documented the work of Kenyan scientists who are researching ways to overcome the spread of vector-borne diseases, as part of a solution-based story. The project has caused the Kenya National Environment Management Authority to commit to putting an end to land degradation in an effort to save Kenya’s only soda lake, Lake Magadi. In addition, the Kenya Medical Research Institute and the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology have both agreed to involve the media in the dissemination of research by these organisations.

Gemnet conducted a training workshop in Kisumu, western Kenya, to work with 20 journalists on how to better report on the environment and climate change. Journalists studied how rising water levels have exacerbated the growth of water hyacinth – which has led to suffocating fish and other marine life – as well as how human activity close to lakes can lead to degradation of biodiversity. As a result of the training, journalists published articles on environmental topics and several participants have chosen to specialise their reporting in climate change and the environment. The project has succeeded in stirring debate and conversation on climate change and the environment, and has empowered audiences to hold policymakers accountable on such issues.