For years, many of the stories told about Turkana focused on drought, conflict, and vulnerability. While those realities exist, Daisy Akori, an alumna of the Master of Arts in Digital Journalism (MADJ) programme at the Aga Khan University Graduate School of Media and Communications (AKU GSMC) believes they are only part of a much bigger picture.
Growing up in Turkana, Daisy witnessed firsthand the challenges many girls faced in accessing education. In a community where grazing animals and marriage were often considered a girl's expected path, pursuing education required determination. When she earned a scholarship to attend university, she embraced the opportunity wholeheartedly.
Today, Daisy serves as Chief Information Officer in the Turkana County Government, managing archives, overseeing digital content, reporting on high-level meetings, and supporting communication across the county. Her work is about connecting people with the programmes and decisions that affect their lives.
But there was a time when she felt her skills needed to catch up with the demands of her role. As communication functions became decentralised within the county government, Daisy found herself responsible for far more than writing. Photography, videography, website management, and social media all became part of her daily work. Determined to grow, she enrolled in the MADJ programme.
The programme gave her the practical skills she needed. More importantly, it changed how she thought about storytelling. "The world has seen Turkana as a vulnerable community, which is not entirely true," she says. "Now that I am able to show the world the side of Turkana that is peaceful and more developed, I believe it will change how people see us."
Through the programme, Daisy broadened her approach to her work. Rather than focusing only on government achievements and political milestones, she began paying closer attention to the human stories behind development: children filling classrooms, communities farming through irrigation, and a county sitting on mineral wealth that could change its future. The impact went beyond storytelling. Since completing the degree, Daisy has been promoted from Senior Public Communications Officer to Chief Information Officer, taking on greater leadership within the county government.
Today, whether she is documenting county initiatives, producing digital content, or capturing the experiences of ordinary citizens, Daisy approaches communication differently. The skills she gained through MADJ have enabled her not only to adapt to the demands of a changing profession but also to tell fuller, more nuanced stories about the place she calls home. In doing so, she is helping ensure that Turkana is seen not only through the lens of its challenges, but also through the resilience, progress, and potential of its people.
