Govt Goes After Media Houses Firing Hundreds Of Journalists

The government has advised media houses against subjecting their staff to ill-treatment, in view of the recent layoffs and pay cuts across media houses that have triggered a crisis in the Kenyan media sector.

Principal Secretary in the State Department for Broadcasting and Telecommunications at the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy Prof Edward Kisiangani, while meeting the Media Council of Kenya (MCK) on Thursday, January 12, warned media owners against tampering with the livelihoods of their employees through toxic business decisions.

The last quarter of 2022 has seen nearly all the major media houses declare their intentions to fire staff owing to reasons such as operational costs, and digital disruption among others.

“Private media owners should not be allowed to threaten the existence of the media through unfriendly business practices. Media workers should be protected from rogue businesses," he addressed at a meeting convened by the Media Council of Kenya to review its Strategic Plan in Kwale.

Broadcasting PS Prof Edward Kisiangani during a meeting convened by the Media Council of Kenya to review its Strategic Plan in Kwale on January 12, 2023. /MCK

The PS further dismissed claims that the media houses are running on shoestring budgets owing to troubling economic times leading to low income on their end, a matter which forced them to trim the number of its workforce to save their fortunes.

He revealed that the Government, through the Government Advertising Agency (GAA), is committed to supporting media viability, adding that it has so far released sums of money towards settling pending bills.

“Out of the pending Ksh1.2 billion, we have so far released Ksh244 million to media houses.

"However, no media house has reported that and most continue subjecting their staff to job cuts. This is unfair and should not be allowed”, he said.

He urged the Media Council to engage media owners towards adopting viable business models and professional reporting.

He also implored media organisations to embrace innovative approaches in their operations in view of the digital shift, even as he assured the media that the government will provide a conducive environment to undertake its operations.

“The Bill of Rights in Chapter 4 of our Constitution gives the media freedom to execute its mandate. However, this should come with utmost responsibility”, he said.

The PS at the same time commended the Media Council of Kenya for spearheading efforts to review laws around media operations, with a view to give the country a robust policy to guide media operations.

“The Government recognises the critical place of independent and free media. We will support the media to play its role in contributing to matters of national interest through responsible reporting”, he said.

Prof Kisiangani said the Government will work closely with the media towards pushing service delivery and delivering on its development agenda.

“Countries that have a vibrant media have a vivacious development agenda. It is not in our brief to fight anybody, including the media as media freedom is enshrined in the Constitution. We will work closely with all stakeholders to institute laws that will streamline media operations. The Media Council should be at the forefront of these efforts”, said the PS.

The PS asked the Media Council of Kenya to execute its mandate, to ultimately enhance professionalism in the Media.

“As a regulator, the Media Council should ensure responsible reporting by the media. The Media Complaints Commission should pick any breaches to the Code of Conduct for the Practice of Journalism in Kenya and guide the media accordingly”, he said.

The PS advised the media to interrogate the government’s blueprint to report objectively on areas around agriculture, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, housing and settlement, healthcare, the digital superhighway, the creative economy and environment and climate change and to avoid political inclinations as governments change from time to time.

MCK CEO Mr David Omwoyo said the Council has embarked on reviewing its Strategic Plan in line with the digital transformation of the media space, noting that liberalisation of the media space has seen exponential growth of media and asked media organisations to uphold professionalism.

He said the Council will continue engaging stakeholders in efforts to promote viability and capacity building on coverage of matters of national interest.

CEO David Omwoyo during a meeting convened by the Media Council of Kenya to review its Strategic Plan in Kwale on January 12, 2023. /MCK