Media urged to bridge between State and Gen Zs amid anti-government protests

Eastern Africa Editors Society President Churchill Otieno speaking on Wednesday in Nairobi themed; Which Way Kenya. [James Wanzala, Standard]

The media in Kenya has been challenged to act as a bridge between the government and the Generation Z(Gen Zs).

It was also urged to consider giving youths opportunity in their various media platforms to be part of discussions on relevant issues affecting the country.

The calls were made on Wednesday in Nairobi during a media breakfast  organised by Eastern Africa Editors Society.

The meeting was under the themed; Which Way Kenya: A Reflection on Youth Voice.

Senior editors reflected on how effective the media played its role in ensuring the Gen Zs' voice was legitimate.

Sited second left is Law Society of Kenya's President Faith Odhiambo with senior editors during the Eastern Africa Editors Society media breakfast held on Wednesday in Nairobi.[ James Wanzala, Standard]

“It became clear that the media does have goodwill from the different sides of the debate and it has an opportunity to bring all these people into one public square so that possibly a conversation can be heard,” said Churchill Otieno, East Africa Editors Society President.

He added: “It also came out  clearly that the Gen Zs or youth are the owners of the future and therefore have a bigger stake on what Kenya is today and is becoming in future and therefore their views and thoughts must remain central and as we move forward, editors will ensure that their voice is not lost.”

Otieno called upon media houses to include the Gen Zs in media shows that discuss important matters affecting the country.

Macharia Gaitho, an independent journalist and editorial consultant said the time for youths to only be considered for entertainment shows is over.

“They have already forced themselves on the table of panelists. They must be there. We have come to a point where we are not only going to provide Gen Z space when it comes to entertainment but also on matters of national discourse, they must be on the table," Gaitho said. 

The meeting was convened at the time the leaderless Gen Zs staged protests across the country. They protest against the Finance Bill 2024 that intended to tax Kenyans more.

The protests, which led to loss of lives and injuries after some forced their way to the Parliament in Nairobi and caused damages, forced President William Ruto to decline to sign the Bill into law.

Ruto asked the Gen Zs to appoint some of them to represent them in the 100-member National Multi-Sectoral Forum(NMSF).

They however turned down the request, instead asking Ruto to act on their 14 demands, among them his resignation. Ruto had indicated his readiness to meet the youths even on social media platforms.

Paul Achar, chief executive officer of Jade Communications, a centre of applied human communications said:

“We have been monitoring discourse analysis on various platforms including digital. What we are saying is that the media has to be a neutral arbiter to bring the parties together since the Gen Zs are saying they are not going to meet President Ruto."

He added: “Therefore, media has to take this excellent opportunity to create platforms, spaces and forums that act as a bridge and hold national conversations on issues raised by them.”

Achar said communication has been brought into the fore since President Ruto and Gen Zs spoke about communication perspectives.

He added that communication is a two-way traffic. 

“Sometimes you might think policies are good as initiator but are you get feedback to the recipient of the policy and that seamless channel of communication has to exist between the governor and governed,” he added