CIO East Africa Managing Editor Zachary Ochieng has been shortlisted as a finalist in the Diageo Africa Business Reporting Awards 2010 that will be held in London on 1st July.   Ochieng’s entry titled “Youths on a mission to light up Kibera slums using solar power” was shortlisted in the Best ICT Feature category. Ochieng is having a shot at his sixth journalism award and a fourth in reporting ICTs.
Diageo which is the world’s leading premium drinks business announced the finalists in the seventh annual awards ceremony that saw other features in different categories also being selected from Europe and USA. More than 750 entries were received from 20 countries across Africa and the rest of the world. There were eleven categories in total.
Other finalists from Kenya include Andrea Bohnstedt of Ratio Magazine,  whose entry titled “Investor Relations Management in East Africa” has been shortlisted  in the Best Finance Feature category  and Philip Mwakio of the Financial Journal whose entry titled “ Land Grabbing: The plunder of public beaches” has been shortlisted in the Best tourism Feature category.

Also nominated from Kenya is Bankelele for their entry titled “Farewell Mobitelea” in the Best Business News Story category and the Kenya Television Network (KTN) in the Media of the year category for the programme “Enterprise Kenya”.

Commenting on this year's awards, Nick Blazquez, Managing Director, Diageo Africa said, “These finalists represent those who are leading the way in international business reporting on Africa. The shortlisted entrants have gone the extra mile in reporting the opportunities and challenges of doing business in Africa and have thoroughly investigated issues that matter to business communities locally, regionally and internationally.”

“The record breaking number of entries from across the globe reflects the increase in business reporting on Africa in 2009/2010, but the type of reports have also indicated a shift in the way that news is being delivered to audiences with many more entrants being online citizen journalists and bloggers. With over 750 entries this year, those shortlisted in their category should be immensely proud of their achievements and contribution to promoting a more accurate understanding of the business environment in Africa,” continued Blazquez.