The government has warned media organizations against maltreating their staff, in view of the recent layoffs and pay cuts across media houses.
Principal Secretary of the State Department for Broadcasting and Telecommunications at the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy Prof Edward Kisiangani said it is wrong for media bosses to mistreat their staff who have been dedicated to their work.
“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 said.
He revealed that the Government, through the Government Advertising Agency (GAA), is committed to supporting media viability, adding that it has so far released money towards settling pending bills.
“Out of the pending Sh1.2 billion, we have so far released Sh244 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 of Kenya to engage media owners towards adopting viable business models and professional reporting.
He also implored media organizations to embrace innovative approaches in their operations in view of the digital shift.
The PS asked MCK to execute its mandate, to ultimately enhance professionalism in the Media.
“As a regulator, the MCK 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.
Media houses have been retrenching staff in a trend that is threatening their existence.
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.
“The government is committed to forging working relationships with the media in order to improve service delivery and quality of life for all Kenyans. Let us engage positively and I urge the media to avoid political inclinations as governments change from time to time. The media should play its watchdog role in a non-partisan manner.”
MCK CEO David Omwoyo said the Council has embarked on reviewing its Strategic Plan in line with the digital transformation of the media space.
He noted that liberalization of the media space has seen exponential growth of media and asked media organizations 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.
The PS at the same time commended MCK 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 recognizes 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.
He made the remarks at a meeting convened by the MCK to review its Strategic Plan in Kwale.
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 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.
