All media houses should be licensed to get digital signal

Kenya: What is the future of the media industry within the Jubilee government? Is the media finally losing its independence? And how far is the Government willing to go in the name of devolution?

Kenya has come so far since independence, since the times of colonial manipulation to the time that citizens can take centre stage in theatre, documentaries, news coverage and reporting, and television programming just to name a few, to the current digital quest.

Drastic losses

I’m not opposing the digitalisation of broadcast media but giving the Chinese the signal to broadcast is questionable.

Kenya is indeed a developing country, but how is development possible when the growth and independence of the media is always being frustrated by the Government?

The media have already invested a lot to have the analogue licences so why not just grant them the digital ones to save them from the drastic losses that they are about to incur?

Media freedom to receive and transmit independent information is now in jeopardy. What will happen to the thousands of young employees set to be laid off once we go digital?

Why is the Government in a hurry to switch off the analogue signal when there are only 500,000 set top boxes available against over one million citizens in Nairobi? What will happen to the other half who would miss out on the digital set top boxes during the first phase of the analogue knock out?

  {Ivy Keziah, Maseno University}

The raging dispute between the State and the media houses regarding the digital migration has painted the former in bad light. For a process that was meant to take the country to the next level to be bungled at the implementation phase is too bad for the State.

Poor handling of the exercise is to blame for the current stand-off.

First, the public sensitisation process was too scanty to win the support of the citizens. Most people do not understand the whole idea of digital migration.

Second, the cost implications were seemingly not given serious thought. At this time of the year when Kenyans are dealing with the high cost of living occasioned by high inflation, demanding Sh5,000 to buy set top boxes is overburdening them.

Third, participation of all the major stakeholders in the process is key. Awarding the signal to only two firms is a cause for worry. It is prudent for the Government to listen to the cries of the other media houses.

Media houses are key investors in our economy. Ignoring their voices in instituting new reforms sends negative signals to would-be investors in the sub sector.

Can the Government afford to scare away investors in media when it is keen on creating job opportunities for thousands of unemployed youths?

 {Benard Amaya, via email}