James Waindi's Rise From 15-Yr Career Break To Lead Sports Journalists Body

The People Daily sports editor beat the incumbent Chris Mbaisi, a Sports Editor at The Star Newspaper

Marvin Chege Marvin Chege
Apr 16, 2023 - 16:47 Updated: Sep 2, 2023 - 22:37
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James Waindi's Rise From 15-Yr Career Break To Lead Sports Journalists Body
People Daily sports editor, James Waindi. /TWITTER.OLE TEYA

Veteran journalist James Waindi led a spirited fight against renowned sports journalists to take the helm of the Sports Journalists Association of Kenya (SJAK) as its President for a period of four years.

The People Daily sports editor beat the incumbent Chris Mbaisi, a Sports Editor at The Star Newspaper, by a vote count of 37 to Mbaisi's 26 in the cut-throat elections held at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi on Saturday, April 15 on his third attempt for the presidency.

"I'm grateful to those who voted to give me the mandate to lead this noble association. Let's now join hands and make this association great again," Waindi, who lost to Mbaisi in the 2014 and 2018 elections, underlined in his speech.

Mediamax Network Limited's People Daily Sports Editor James Waindi (left) was elected the new president after trouncing incumbent Chris Mbaisi of The Star (right). /PEOPLE DAILY

"Constitution change and the journalists’ welfare will be key in our next agenda. We will do a massive recruitment drive to add new members to the association as well as bring more sponsors on board.

"We will also hold investment training for the members. I'm also pledging that the election for the vacant Secretary General post will be held soon," he added.

Waindi holds a Bachelor's degree in Communication and Political Science from the University of Nairobi (UoN) as well as a Master of Arts in Digital Journalism from Aga Khan University, which he got in February 2023.

According to his LinkedIn profile, he has been on a career break since January 2008 but had worked as a writer for The Standard newspaper, which some say might look odd considering he has been a practising journalist for 16 years in different capacities and worked with various organisations.

Waindi in January 2013 joined Mediamax Networks Limited where he has been since. Some of the skills he amassed while at the media house include Headline Writing, Online News, Investigative Reporting, Sports Writing, Report Writing, Newspapers, New Media, Digital Journalism, Political Science, Photography, Copywriting and Copy Editing, among others.

His predecessor, Mbaisi, commended the scribes for showing decorum in the highly contested elections.

"You made your decisions. It's not a bed of roses leading this association, but I'll be open to talks and consultations for pieces of advice that may take this organisation to the next level," he stated.

Kenya National Sports Council Administrative Secretary James Akama and Treasurer Charles Nyaberi, who oversaw the elections, hailed the exercise for being peaceful. However, they recommended voters' education ahead of future elections to avert the number of spoiled votes realised in the exercise.

"These elections were in line with the international sports body AIPS. As members of various federations, SJAK is very important to us because the sports journalists help to market our associations, we owe a lot of gratitude to SJAK," Nyaberi stated.

"To the new office, go beyond the bar that was set by the outgoing officers, we have confidence in you that you will deliver," added Nyaberi.

Waindi was elected president alongside Eric Njiru of Homeboyz Radio who garnered 34 votes against 27 of James Magayi from Pulse Media to become the new Vice President. Mukami Wambora, a former Citizen TV sports anchor, defeated Alex Isaboke of Capital FM by 35 votes to 28 to bag the Treasurer position.

Samson Ateka of The Star Newspaper, who served in the previous regime as one of the committee members, won the Organising Secretary post unopposed, with delegates set to decide on the way forward regarding that position after Citizen TV's Mike Okinyi pulled out of the race.

Moses Wakhisi of KTN, who was eyeing the Secretary General’s seat, was locked out of the post on technicalities.

Agnes Makhandia of Nation Media Group (48 votes), Geoffrey Mwamburi of Radio Citizen (36), Ahmed Abulla of K24 TV (40) and Charity Wanja, a freelancer, (27) were the four Executive Committee members elected.

From left: Abuller Ahmed, Geoffrey Mwamburi, Agnes Makhandia, James Waindi, Erick Njiru, Charity Wanja and Samson Ateka after being elected at the Sports Journalists Association of Kenya (SJAK) elections in Nairobi on April 15, 2023. /DAILY NATION

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