Greening the Media
The project aims to support the ILEG’s effort to improve environmental governance in Kenya by training journalists on environment and environmental reporting, and promoting access to environmental information.
The project seeks to nurture and support a forum/network for environmental journalists and facilitate exchange of information and sharing of experiences with journalists from around the world. In addition, the project will conduct a sustained media campaign involving, TV/radio environmental news/features/drama and debates, newspaper articles, environmental policy/issues dialogues, and community environmental events.
The project has so far achieved the following:
Held several community environmental events in areas of project implementation
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Supported networks for environmental journalists like Kenya Correspondence Association and developed a website for Kenya Environment and Science Journalists Association (KENSJA) - www.kensja.org
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Conducted an assessment of the status of environmental journalism in Kenya
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Conducted an assessment of key environmental issues in Kisumu District
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Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation, November 2009 
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Environmental Comunication National Workshop, Training Course and Public Forum, 27th September to 1th October 2009
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-H4untsw4E
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zo-WTmjONOg
The project is currently at the advanced stage of developing a journalist training curricula and toolkit on climate change in partnership with Maseno University Department of Communication & Media.
Environmental Episodes in ‘Makutano Junction
Makutano Junction is an educational drama series which addresses a wide range of development issues. Episodes were initially broadcast through the State-owned Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) television station which has a national coverage, they are now currently broadcasted through Citizen TV. Makutano Junction is produced by Media for Education and Development Company (Mediae Trust). ILEG in partnership with Mediae supported the production of a series of episodes which incorporated environmental issues as the main stories. These episodes focused on the right to clean water, environmental rights and governance and were aired from September to December 2007. Other episodes with environmental themes were aired in 2008 and will continue to air in 2009.
Interactive SMS feature by Mediae Trust enable viewers to send comments and ask questions regarding anything they watch on the program. In addition, Mediae in partnership with ILEG, designs leaflets using video footage of the episodes to bringing out the highlights of the theme for that particular episode. These leaflets are sent out to members of the public who request for more information via the SMS’s. Over 600 leaflets are mailed out after each episode. The leaflets also contain contact information for organizations that may assist in the management of the environment such as the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) and the Public Complaints Committee on Environment (PCC).
The media can play an important role in educating and informing the general public on matters concerning the environment through cost effective means such as the Makutano Junction drama series which reaches a cross section of Kenyans, the majority living in the rural areas. ILEG plans to continue to take advantage of opportunities provided by media to disseminate environmental information.
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