The move to restrict all government electronic and broadcast advertisements to Kenya Broadcasting Corporation is a threat to media freedom in the country
Media practitioners have announced a plan to sue the government over its decision to restrict its television and radio advertisement to the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC).
The Kenya Media Sector Working Group on Wednesday March 13, 2024, said that the decision by Broadcasting and Telecommunications Principal Secretary, Edward Kisangani, to reserve all government TV and radio adverts to the national broadcaster was discriminatory.
The journalists said that the directive by the PS to ministries, state agencies, independent commissions and public universities, is a threat to press freedom in the country.
They also accused the government of undermining freedom of expression, media freedom and freedom to access information through the directive.
“The Constitution of Kenya, in the Bill of Rights (Article 34) guarantees freedom of the media as a fundamental right.
“This directive is a deliberate attempt to stifle dissenting voices, control the public narrative, and ultimately weaken the democratic fabric of the nation. A healthy democracy thrives on a plurality of ideas and viewpoints, not on a singular, government-sanctioned narrative,” said KMSWG in a joint statement.
Prof Kisiang’ani had on last Friday directed all government agencies to advertise with the national broadcaster in what he said is a move geared towards reviving the financially struggling KBC.
He added that the decision was in line with the National Treasury circular issued on July 10, 2015, which communicated the cabinet’s decision to centralise public sector advertising.
The directive by the PS, came barely weeks after the government awarded a contract to The Star newspaper to exclusively publish all print advertising, a matter that is now before the court.
But KMSWG said that the directive by the PS goes against Article 34 of the Constitution which guarantees freedom of the media as a fundamental right.
KMSWG members include the Kenya Editors Guild (KEG) and the Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ) among others.
“KBC’s editorial line has historically mirrored the government’s position, leaving little room for critical perspectives or investigative journalism,” said the KUJ secretary general, Eric Oduor.
The media practitioners said Prof Kisiang’ani’s order marks the latest chapter in a state campaign against free media in the past few months.
“This State campaign has far-reaching consequences beyond silencing dissent. They represent a devastating blow to Kenya’s independent media, already grappling with a decline in traditional revenue streams due to the rise of digital platforms,” said Zubeida Kananu, the KEG president.