The Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communications and the Digital Economy Dr Margaret Nyambura Ndung’u has pledged Government support to media operations in Kenya.
Dr Ndung’u who hosted a roundtable with key media stakeholders in Nairobi today to discuss the state of Government - Media relations and issues affecting the media industry and its role in shaping public discourse, assured media industry players of the Government’s efforts to address the various challenges faced by Kenya’s media, including the welfare of media workers.
CS Ndung’u announced that the Ministry will collaborate with the media on a concrete way forward to ensure that the pending bills are cleared, adding that the Government is keen on prioritising challenges faced by media organisations and individual journalists and media practitioners.
The Cabinet Secretary also spoke about the composition of the Media Council of Kenya whose Board is yet to be constituted over legal challenges.
“The Ministry is in the process of reviewing the Media Council Act 2013 to ensure stability in the regulation of the sector and general appointment of the Council members. The process will entail stakeholder involvement to eliminate confusion on the role of the stakeholders”, she told the engagement that brought together Editorial Heads and Chief Executives drawn from various media houses, including foreign media operating in the country.
She affirmed the Media Council of Kenya’s place in media regulation, saying the body has been constitutionally constituted to aid in facilitating matters around media regulation and development.
On reforms in the issuance of broadcasting licences, the CS tasked the Communications Authority of Kenya to tap from global practices and propose ways of streamlining the licensing sector “to eliminate those who have no capacity or are holding licenses and frequencies for speculative purposes”.
The Cabinet Secretary at the same time affirmed the Ministry’s commitment to institution of robust legislation to guide media operations in the country.
“The Ministry is asking the media sector to submit a proposal of the laws to be reviewed for consideration in the 2025 amendments”.
She revealed plans to revamp Kenya’s State broadcaster, Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC), saying a Cabinet memo on Kenya Broadcasting Corporation is being finalised to facilitate a robust public broadcaster that meets its obligations.
Responding to a request for government support for Kenya to host the 2026 Africa Media Convention, the CS said the ministry will work with the sector to prepare a cabinet-level request for the 2026 Africa Media Convention.
Dr Ndung’u pledged the government’s commitment to the safety of journalists and creation of a conducive working environment for Kenya’s media.
“We must work together to see how best to improve the sector to ensure that our journalists are safe and that we are respecting the Constitution both ways. We are keen to working with the media, and we have an open policy. I urge you to come up with recommendations and ideas that will enable us to push this country forward”, she said.
Earlier, media stakeholders in a petition read by Kenya Union of Journalists Secretary General Eric Oduor, listed several areas of concern, among them payment of debts owned by the government to the media and the need for a transparent and responsive Government Advertising Policy.
They also called for the appointment of the MCK Board and the pending additional two Commissioners to the Complaints Commission to handle media related disputes.
Among others, the media players called for reforms in the issuance of radio and TV frequencies, review of laws hindering the operation of the media, creation of a dedicated department to deal with media matters in the ministry, strengthening of the national broadcaster and the need for quarterly roundtables with the media sector to review progress and ensure continuous engagement.
The meeting was attended by, among others, the Principal Secretary, State Department for Broadcasting and Telecommunication Prof Edward Kisiang'ani, Information Secretary Judy Munyinyi and MCK CEO David Omwoyo.