Govt Gazettes Appointment of KTN's Zubeida Kananu, Dennis Itumbi

KTN News anchor and President of The Kenya Editors Guild (KEG) Zubeida Kananu has officially been appointed by the Ministry of Information, Communication and the Digital Economy as a member of The Sector Working Group alongside Digital Strategist Dennis Itumbi.

According to a Kenya Gazette notice dated Tuesday, September 19, Zubeida will now serve under the Broadcasting, Postal, and Courier sectors in the Working Group on Policy and Legislative Reforms for the ministry.

"It is notified for the general information of the public that the Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communications and the Digital Economy has appointed the Working Group on Policy and Legislative Reforms for the Information, Communications and the Digital Economy Sector (hereafter referred to as “Sectoral Working Group”)," read the notice in part.

Dennis Itumbi at State House next to the English Premier League trophy on September 2, 2023. /PCS

The Working Group shall, in its objectives, evaluate the efficacy, suitability and structuring of the ICT and digital economy sector and its role in fostering agility, innovation and value creation.

It will also review existing policy, legislative frameworks, institutional structures and administrative protocols regulating/underpinning the ICT and digital economy sector in Kenya and make recommendations for reform.

"The Sectoral Working Group shall be structured around the State Departments of ICT and the Digital Economy, and Broadcasting and Telecommunications, under clearly defined thematic areas," added the notice.

It will be led by Professor Timothy Mwololo Waema as the chairperson assisted by two vice chairpersons namely Phyllis Migwi and Doctor Hanningtone Joel Gaya.

Zubeida will be working alongside Ambassador Bishar Hussein, former KEG president Churchill Moses Otieno and Agnes Kalekye Nguna among others.

Other members include Itumbi, Michael Okidi, Carole Mandi, Fiona Asonga, John Walubengo, John Ooko, and Amrit Singh Pyara Labhuram.

The group will operate for three months although the timeline is not fixed since ICT Cabinet Secretary, Eliud Owalo has the mandate to extend the term if necessary.

Zubeida is also the current programmes editor and news anchor at Standard Group Limited where she started as an intern in 2007 and has since developed into an experienced broadcast personality.

She was elected the new KEG president on Saturday, April 29 during its Annual General Meeting (AGM) held at the Nairobi Safari Club and results were announced by Returning Officer Tom Onyango.

Zubeida won with 72 votes, putting clear daylight between her and Sammy Muraya from Journalists for Human Rights, who amassed 36 votes, out of 110 people who took part in the elections.

She holds a Master Of Science Degree in Governance, Peace and Security from African Nazarene University and a Bachelors Degree in Peace and Conflict Management. 

She also holds a diploma in journalism from Shang' Tao Media Arts College and Crosswood Institute and also studied at The Kenya School of Professional Studies.

Zubeida in 2022 had her milestones including moderating the 2022 Nairobi gubernatorial and the deputy presidential debate series, where she went viral for the heated exchange between her and Nairobi governor Johnson Sakaja.

Zubeida Kananu delivers her speech at the Nairobi Club on April 29, 2023, after being elected the Kenya Editors Guild president. /KENYA EDITORS GUILD