Scholars' take on Kenyan media hypothetical

In the last two weeks, two men who have had enormous influence on my journalistic writing, penned their thoughts in The Standard on what they believe is the state of Kenyan media.

Kicking off the discussions was Egara Kabaji, an established literary composer and thought leader whose newspaper articles intrigued and nudged my nascent mind to exhibit my skills.

Then Duncan Omanga, a scholar under whose tutelage and mentorship, I worked to see my first article published in the mainstream media, offered a riposte to Prof Kabaji's sentiments.

In his submissions, Prof Kabaji reckoned that Kenyan media has failed in its fundamental role of entrenching and consolidating democracy. That the editors, media owners and journalists are feasting on illusions of vibrancy and usefulness to the citizenry.

The profit gale, the don maintains, has seen relegation of ethics and professionalism by the local media.

He adds that our airwaves are replete with sleaze, ignorance and vulgarities. To the good professor, the situation is so bad that it will take the second coming of the Son of Man to remedy it.

In a rejoinder titled "Media has not failed Kenya, it has only failed itself", Dr Omanga believes that Prof Kabaji is too harsh, that while there are gaps, historically, the media performance in Kenya is dotted with positives that cannot be overlooked.

In apparent reference to a lecture by Hilary Ngweno, in which the latter recalls how as an editor, he played a role in the appointment of Mwai Kibaki to deputise President Moi in 1978, Dr Omanga believes that a score card of the local media would only be plausible when summed up historically.

In fact, Dr Omanga believes that as a teacher of journalists, Prof Kabaji should be the last to complain about professionalism.

While I hold immense respect for the dons, I believe their views, illuminating as they are, were offered in complete disregard of the environment in which journalists and media houses operate.

It is important to point out that the number of 'media training' institutions has ballooned in recent years, so much so that it seems every estate and street has one.

The result is a hodgepodge of amateurs who believe that having a social media account and a newsroom email address is all one needs to be a journalist.

Then the emergence of the Internet and invention of social media has in a very dramatic way changed the way journalists gather, process and disseminate news.

Whether it is a Facebook tag or being roped into a tweet, modern scribes are pelted with new information with each passing second.

Then comes the challenge of walking the tight rope of whether to break the news or wait to verify; a double edged sword.

Prof. Kabaji makes a point that our radios spew obscenities. I agree.

On public transport, I have many times been vexed by silly giggles from senior citizens when the randy presenters emit X-rated content at 7:30am. However, repeat polls have put the 'offensive stations and programmes' ahead of others.

Is it a case of receiving sleaze with the left hand while holding a protest pen with the right? On this, I think collectively, we have lost the moral face as a society; and it surely will take the return of Christ to reclaim.

In Dr Omanga's rebuttal, Hilary Ngweno is invited to the Office of the President where he meets Mr Moi and Charles Njonjo, then Attorney General and asked about the suitability of Mr Kibaki for Vice President.

What follows is a well-researched article, placed on the front page of The Weekly Review detailing Mr Kibaki's suitability for the position.

As sure as fire follows smoke, Mr Kibaki was named VP in the days following. I don't know why Dr Omanga believes this is journalism at its best.

What if the candidate was not Mr Kibaki? To me, it smells of conspiracy and complicity between the media and the State to achieve ends which though are interesting to the public, are not in the public interest.

Sadly, the tradition continues to this day.

In conclusion, there is no denying that the Kenyan media space is one of the most vibrant on the continent.

The number of international channels with offices in Nairobi, where many Kenyan journalists are employed and the international awards won by local journalists every year attests to this.

What is contested is the utilitarian vibrancy which is again influenced by myriad factors, a number of which are out of the journalist's control.