By Rodgers Omondi, 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.
Eunita Nafula, the Programs Coordinator at Dhamira Moja, emphasized the urgent need to equip journalists with digital security skills, since it is an important area of their jobs.
“We need to train them on cybersecurity since it resonates with their field and helps ensure their safety,” said Nafula.
She further explained that there’s a noticeable knowledge gap among journalists when it comes to digital security, so we aim to make sure 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.
