MEET NOMINEE 2 OF 7 IN THE HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER OF THE YEAR AWARD CATEGORY – MORAA OBIRIA

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Moraa writes investigative and in-depth stories and editorial opinions. She also publishes podcasts. Every piece of her story is about advocating for the rights of all. From highlighting the work of human rights defenders to reporting on sexual harassment among male journalists to sexual exploitation of children in tourism, her journalism is purely human-rights-based. 

While working at the Nation Media Group(NMG), Nakuru regional office in 2013, Moraa built her name as a writer with a deep interest and passion in human rights, gender, governance, climate change, and the environment. One outstanding outcome of her journalism work was being nicknamed “Ogiek” because she consistently and extensively wrote about the tribulations of the Ogiek minority community. In 2016 she joined Ogiek Peoples’ Development Program as a communication development consultant before the management took her on as a media and communication officer. She not only raised the visibility of her organization but also created partnerships with like-minded human rights organizations before returning to full-time journalism.

Due to her human rights reporting, Moraa is a multiple award-winning journalist, feted by the Media Council of Kenya, National Gender and Equality Commission, and UN Women. Last year, her investigative story on cross-border female genital mutilation between Kenya and Uganda won her Journalists for Human Rights Award in the print category. At the same time, she was in second place in Usawa Awards by the National Gender and Equality Commission. The award recognized organizations and individuals who have made tremendous efforts in championing gender equality and inclusion in Kenya. In 2017, she also won the impact AFRICA award for her investigative story on the challenges women with disabilities face while seeking maternal health services.

In this year’s Media Council of Kenya Annual Journalism Excellence Awards, she came second in the Development reporting, digital category for her story on Why Kitale men are warming up to Kangaroo Mother Care. For the second time, her report on Inside the Kenya-TZ cross border FGM earned her second place in the Gender reporting, digital category. She is also a finalist in the 2022 UN Women Gender Journalism Awards.

Moraa is a Journalists for Human Rights trainee and a member of the Association of Media Women in Kenya. She is pursuing a Master’s degree in Gender and Development Studies at Kenyatta University.

She lives by the mantra, “I cannot change anything without doing something.” So daily, she is motivated to write stories that bring change to our society.