UNITY IN PURPOSE: Strengthening the Media Under the Kenya Media Sector Working Group (KMSWG)

The recent meeting of the Kenya Media Sector Working Group (KMSWG) was marked by a strong sense of urgency and unity in purpose, as stakeholders grappled with a rapidly deteriorating environment for media freedom in Kenya. The discussion was dominated by concerns over the escalating threats to press freedom, including direct state interference, gagging orders, and systematic attempts to stifle independent journalism.

Participants highlighted a series of recent incidents that have brought these issues to the forefront. The Communications Authority’s directive to ban live coverage of the Gen Z-led protests, for instance, was widely condemned as unconstitutional and a blatant violation of Article 34 of the Kenyan Constitution, which guarantees freedom of the media.

The KMSWG called on all media houses to defy this order, emphasising that such state actions threaten not only the sustainability of responsible journalism but also the media’s ability to serve the public interest.
The meeting also addressed the government’s growing use of economic levers, such as restricting public sector advertising to state-controlled outlets as a form of indirect censorship. This move, according to KMSWG and other media professionals, is a deliberate attempt to weaken independent media, limit the diversity of voices, and control public narratives. Such financial pressures, combined with judicial gag orders and regulatory overreach, have led to increased self-censorship and undermined the viability of many media houses.

Speakers noted that these challenges are compounded by a rise in attacks on journalists, both physical and legal, often perpetrated by security forces, politicians, or their proxies. The use of a “cocktail of laws” to target journalists and media outlets has created an environment of fear and uncertainty, pushing many to self-censor or avoid critical reporting altogether.

Against this backdrop, the call for unity was clear and forceful. The era of isolated, “lone ranger” journalism is over; only a united media sector, working in concert with civil society, legal professionals, and international partners, can effectively defend press freedom and resist gagging attempts. The meeting reaffirmed the media’s duty to the public, insisting on accuracy, professionalism, and adherence to the new MCK Code of Conduct, even as journalists face increasing risks.

Ultimately, the KMSWG resolved to continue pushing back against all forms of media gagging, to challenge unconstitutional directives in court, and to strengthen solidarity within the sector. There was a consensus that the struggle for press freedom is not only about protecting journalists but also about safeguarding Kenya’s democracy and the public’s right to information.