The Media Council of Kenya (MCK) has urged development partners to offer structured support to community and local media, highlighting their key role in boosting public communication, transparency and inclusive development
MCK Meru Regional Coordinator Jackson Karanja emphasised the importance of empowering local media to inform communities about ongoing infrastructural projects and social transformation initiatives.
“We encourage development partners to actively support community and local media as vital stakeholders in the development process. These media houses are more than just content providers; they act as a critical link between communities and the progress happening around them,” Karanja stated during a meeting with representatives from the Catholic Diocese of Isiolo, partners in the Horn of Africa Gateway Development Project.
Karanja pointed to the rapid infrastructural growth in Northern Kenya, stressing the need to equip local journalists with the tools and skills to report on these developments with depth, accuracy, and context.
“The public has a right to know how development funds are being used. With proper support, local journalists can produce impactful reporting that boosts public understanding and accountability,” he added.
Morris Mawira, Communication Lead for the Horn of Africa Gateway Development Project, outlined the initiative’s collaboration with five local media houses across Meru and Isiolo counties.
He explained that the partnership aims not only to showcase infrastructure achievements but also to highlight pressing social issues.
“We are leveraging local media to amplify development messages and tackle urgent societal challenges, such as gender-based violence, early marriages and the need for inclusive community participation in decision-making,” Mawira said.