County Governments fail to make it to 2015 OLX SOMA Awards finalists’ list

County governments have failed to make it to this year’s OLX Social Media Awards (SOMA 2015) list of nominees released today.

OLX Social Media Awards director, Mr. Martin Muli, says county governments have continued to perform poorly in the digital space hence the decision to leave them out.

“The judges observed that the county governments as institutions lack social media presence as governors use their individual accounts to engage the public,” says Mr. Muli.

Another category that failed to attract eligible nominees is the Social Students Organisations Award that recognizes most active students’ organizations on social media. Student leaders Babu Owino (University of Nairobi), Anthony Sifuma (Zetech University), Victoria Mbugua (USIU), Robinson Kimtai (CUSA), and George Thuku (Kenyatta) have, however, been nominated for the Most Influential Student Leader Award.

However, Governors Evans Kidero (Nairobi), Dr Alfred Mutua (Machakos), Hassan Joho (Mombasa), Mwangi wa Iria (Murang’a) and William Kabogo (Kiambu) have, however, been nominated for the Social Governor Award.

Kenyatta, Dedan Kimathi, Zetech, University of Nairobi and Catholic University of Eastern Africa, have been nominated for the Most Social Learning Institution Award.

This year’s Awards whose ceremony will be in October feature new categories including Sports under which Kenya Premier League champions, Gor Mahia FC, Rugby 24/7, East Africa’s sports betting site, Sportpesa, sports newscaster, Carol Radull, and 800 metres World Champion, David Rudisha, have been nominated.

Mimi Online Shop, Futaa.com, Bonfire Adventures and Events, Michael Soi and DJ Joe Mfalme will battle it out for the BizYangu Award, also a new category. Biz Yangu Awards recognizes Below the Pyramid (BoP) businessmen and women who have made good use of social media for economic empowerment

The Olx SOMA, now in its third year, is a platform for celebrating the contribution of social media in the social, economic and political spheres of lives. The Awards recognise and rewards individuals and organizations that have contributed to the growth of social media.

The Olx SOMA 2015 theme is Social Media and Economic Empowerment.

Mr. Muli has asked social media enthusiasts to participate in the process by voting for the nominees they believe have made great contributions to the Digital Space and economic development of the country.

The title sponsor for the annual Awards is the online classified service, OLX. Other sponsors are Trinc Media, a digital agency engaging in web design, social media strategy, and digital campaign execution, and several other corporate organizations.