State pressure, economic coercion strain Kenya's media industry

The directive, issued by Information and Communication Technology Principal Secretary Edward Kisiangani on January 23, 2024, prohibits the placement of government advertisements in the country's oldest and widely circulating dailies, with the exception of only one publication, The Star.

This decision has far-reaching implications, particularly for readers of prominent newspapers such as The Standard, Daily Nation, and The People Daily. As a result of the directive, these readers will be deprived of access to government advertisements related to jobs, tenders, and other critical announcements, including appointments and statutory notices.

"They are illegally weaponising government advertising. It is illegal because the existence of Government Advertising Agency (GAA) is not anchored in any law and goes against the principles establishing the Public Finance Management Act," says the Standard Group Editor-in-Chief Ochieng' Rapuro.

He accused the government of manipulating the allocation process to punish media outlets that publish critical content, thereby compromising media independence.

"We, The Standard, were kicked out of MyGov twice because of hard-hitting headlines we did. So, when it comes to a point where the government wants to control the message we are disseminating, especially if you hold them accountable, then they withdraw the advertising."

Journalists protest against extrajudicial killings during World Press Freedom Day. [Boniface kendo, Standard]

"William Ruto's election as president in August 2022 marked the start of a difficult period for the media, with the heads of major press groups, including the Nation Media Group, and leading media outlets, such as the Daily Nation, being fired as a result of political pressure," reads the report.

Peter Kimani, a Professor of the Practice of Journalism at Aga Khan University, explains how intimidation tactics by the State have stifled journalists' freedom to express critical opinions, creating an atmosphere of apprehension among media personnel.

A former editor at The Standard newspaper and current columnist, Kimani articulated concerns regarding the government's tactics to undermine the credibility of mainstream media. He drew parallels between the current administration's strategy and former US President Donald Trump's approach to discrediting the media, noting that the constant false accusations of bias aim to weaken public trust in reputable news outlets.

"This administration came in on a false assertion that the media was prejudiced against Kenya Kwanza politicians," says Prof Kimani.

According to Kimani, the continued attack on media owners and practitioners potentially leads to the peril of self-censorship among journalists, citing instances where the fear of reprisal led to the suppression of genuine reporting, particularly during this year's anti-government protests.

He explains that coverage of the protests was construed by the state as being anti-government.

During the 2023 demonstrations, the Communication Authority of Kenya (CAK) through a press statement criticised six TV stations, threatening to revoke their licenses. The Authority claimed that the national broadcasters had violated coverage codes and that coverage of the protest was a form of public incitement.

"We lose our ability to articulate our thoughts because we are afraid of stating the case as clearly as possible. Not to mention the behind-the-scenes arm-twisting denial of advertisement and revenues by the government," says Kimani.

There have also been manoeuvres to penetrate the media are also evolving, creating a growing interconnection between the media and governmental roles.

This year witnessed a substantial influx of journalists transitioning to various government positions, notably within State House, Parliament and Cabinet Secretaries' offices. She argues that this shift is likely to pave the way for government influence to seep into newsrooms.

"This administration believes that the best communicators are journalists from the newsroom but not because they are the best in the newsroom but because they can penetrate and get to know what is happening before they are published," she says.

Roselyn Obala, the Planning and Research Editor at the Nation Media Group, highlights the alarming rise in harassment and attacks against journalists.

She recalled how while leaving the newsroom and heading to the parking lot in the office basement, she received a harrowing call from a politician. He accused her of killing a particular story and warned he was aware of her current location in the parking lot, preparing to drive away.

"If somebody says that to you, what do you do? You just start having anxiety attacks. You don't drive home and want to use different routes every day and every time I leave, I'm wondering who is following me," says Obala.

This content was developed thanks to a grant administered by The Kenya Editors Guild. The project received funding, editorial and legal support from the Thomson Reuters Foundation as part of its wider, global media freedom programme, which aims to strengthen free, fair and informed societies. Financial assistance provided to the journalist exclusively covers expenses associated with research, investigation, and the subsequent publication of stories. The support has no influence or bearing on the journalist's editorial independence or their choice of topics to report on. The information contained in this content belongs solely to the author and is not endorsed by or associated with the Thomson Reuters Foundation, Thomson Reuters, Reuters, nor any other affiliates