Kenya’s media landscape is dominated by business tycoons and politicians, making journalism more of a tool for influence than a profession driven by truth and accountability.
The ownership of major media houses by political and business elites has turned newsrooms into battlegrounds for power struggles, where coverage is dictated by vested interests rather than public interest.
Take, for instance, Royal Media Services, owned by business magnate S.K. Macharia. During Kenya’s last general elections, Macharia openly supported ODM leader Raila Odinga’s presidential bid.
This stance had a ripple effect on his media empire, with stations under Royal Media, such as Citizen TV, being accused of bias.
The fallout saw some advertisers pull out, and the company suffered financial setbacks.
Such incidents highlight how political affiliations of media owners directly impact the credibility and sustainability of journalism in Kenya.
KTN, owned by the Standard Group, has its own entanglements. The Standard Group is associated with the Moi family, who have long wielded political and economic influence in Kenya.
This connection shapes its editorial decisions, ensuring favorable coverage for allies while sidelining critics.
Similarly, K24, owned by the Kenyatta family through Mediamax, has been used as a political mouthpiece, shifting its editorial direction based on the family’s interests.
The concentration of media ownership among a few powerful individuals means that newsroom decisions who gets covered, who is given airtime, and which stories get prominence are dictated not by journalistic principles but by the business and political interests of owners.
Investigative journalism is stifled when it threatens these interests, and critical voices are often muted.
This crisis in Kenya’s journalism mirrors global concerns about media ownership and its impact on press freedom.
In countries like Argentina, France, Scotland, Spain, and Uruguay, journalists have pioneered alternative ownership models to break free from corporate and political influence.
For instance, Spain’s elDiario.es and France’s Mediapart are owned by journalists and operate independently, ensuring editorial decisions are made in the public interest rather than to serve elite agendas.
Kenya could learn from these models. A shift towards journalist-owned media houses or community-funded newsrooms could offer a path to restoring integrity in the industry.
By removing billionaire and political control, journalists would be free to report without fear of retribution or economic sabotage.
The future of journalism in Kenya depends on breaking the cycle of elite control.
Without this, the profession risks losing its essence, reduced to a tool for political propaganda rather than a pillar of democracy and accountability.