Information, Communications and the Digital Economy Cabinet Secretary Mr Eliud Owalo has today unveiled the team that will select the new Media Council of Kenya Board.
The 13-member panel comprises representatives from media associations, the private sector, Government and academia.
CS Owalo urged the panel to strive at being impartial, objective and fair as possible as they select the fourth Board of the Media Council of Kenya under the new Constitution. The Board which will oversee the strategic direction of the Media Council of Kenya over the next three years.
“I urge this panel to embrace objectivity and select a board that will work for the good of the industry”, said Mr Owalo.
“We wish to see a harmonious relationship between the players in the media industry which will create a favourable working relationship that serve the interest of the media”, he said.
The Principal Secretary, State Department of Broadcasting and Telecommunication Prof Edward Kisiangáni reiterated the government's commitment to accord media conducive working environment in line with the Constitution of Kenya.
“The panel should ensure that the procedures agreed are inline with the constitution. We want the media industry to flourish, and therefore you are tasked with the responsibility of getting us the right people to do the job”, noted Prof Kisiang’ani.
The new MCK Board will comprise a Chairperson and eight members who will include a member nominated by the Information, Communications and the Digital Economy Cabinet Secretary.
Members of the selection panel and their respective institutions are: Oscar Obonyo – Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ), Mr Emmanuel Juma – Media Owners Association (MOA), Mr Macharia Gaitho – Kenya Editors Guild (KEG), Ms Marlene Achieng Abongó – Law Society of Kenya (LSK), Mr William Oloo Janak – Kenya Correspondents Association (KCA), Ms Sylvia Mwichuli – Public Relations Society of Kenya (PRSK), Mr Daniel Waitere – National Gender and Equality Commission (NGEC), Mr Julius Melli- Association of Professional Societies in East Africa (APSEA), Mr Benjamin Langwen – Consumers Federation of Kenya (COFEK), Ms Juliana Yiapan – Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy, Ms Josephine Kinuthia – Kenya News Agency (KNA), Dr Kinya Mwithia -School of Journalism Private Universities and Dr Jane Thuo – School of Journalism Public Universities.