Busia: In an effort to enhance the safety and digital resilience of local media practitioners, Dhamira Moja Community-Based Organization (CBO) has rolled out a cybersecurity training program targeting journalists in Busia County.

According to Kenya News Agency, Eunita Nafula, the Program’s Coordinator at Dhamira Moja, emphasized the urgent need to equip journalists with digital security skills, since it is an important area in their job. ‘We need to train them on cybersecurity since it resonates with their field and helps ensure their safety,’ said Nafula.

Nafula further explained that there’s a noticeable knowledge gap among journalists when it comes to digital security, adding that there was a need to ensure they are safe and more informed on how to navigate the internet. Her sentiments were echoed by Joseph Abuje, the chairperson of the Busia Journalists Union, who acknowledged that most journalists in the region lacked basic cybersecurity awareness.

‘Many of our members have fallen victim to online tracking and cyberattacks. This training is not only timely but also essential, as it will come in handy during the campaign season when digital threats are usually heightened,’ said Abuje. On the other hand, Patrick Ojanji, who is a journalist, noted the immediate benefits of the program, saying it had enlightened journalists on how to protect both their personal devices and office equipment.

‘Cybersecurity is crucial, especially in this digital era. The training has taught us how to use the internet responsibly and securely. It has also made us aware that misuse of digital platforms can have serious repercussions,’ he said. Ojanji also called on the government to support press freedom by ensuring that journalists can safely utilize digital tools in their reporting without facing undue threats or restrictions.

As the digital landscape becomes increasingly complex, such initiatives are playing a pivotal role in ensuring that journalists in rural and under-resourced areas are not left behind in the fight against cyber threats.