Your favorite Kenyan blogger Cyprian Nyakundi is up for global recognition after being nominated for next year’s Global Freedom of Expression Award, organized by Index On Censorship.
“We wanted to let you know that you have been nominated by a member of the public for Index on Censorship’s Freedom of Expression Awards Fellowship 2018 in the campaigning category” read their email in part.
Jodie Ginsberg, CEO of Index, said: “The Freedom of Expression Awards Fellowship not only showcases — but also strengthens — groups and individuals doing brave and brilliant work to enhance freedom of expression around the world. Awards fellows often have to overcome immense obstacles and face great danger just for the right to express themselves. This is our chance to celebrate them.”
Administrator of this website Cyprian Nyakundi expressed his delight at this recognition. “I’m deeply honoured to have been nominated for this prestigious award, coming at a time when threats to my life, coupled with attempts to block our spaces of expression are rife,” he said.
Cyprian Nyakundi has been subject to systemic state-sponsored death-threats, and is facing multiple law-suits from several corporate bodies, including National Bank of Kenya, Kenya Pipeline Company, Housing Finance Bank and Safaricom Kenya Limited.
Ironically, Safaricom is majority-owned by Vodafone UK, who are title-sponsors of this award. It then appears to be a stark contradiction that while the parent company of Safaricom supports freedom of expression, it’s subsidiary is extremely active in stifling the same.
