The Kenya Editors’ Guild has called on the government to take urgent and concrete measures to protect journalists, safeguard media sustainability, and clarify the regulatory environment, warning that failure to address existing challenges poses a direct threat to press freedom and Kenya’s democratic gains.
Speaking at the 8th Annual Editors’ Convention in Kilifi, KEG President Zubeida Kananu outlined a series of priority interventions, among them renewed commitment to the safety of journalists, expedited prosecution of perpetrators of violence against media workers, liberalisation of government advertising, and comprehensive modernisation of the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC).
“Protecting journalists is protecting democracy,” Ms Kananu said, noting that more than 20 journalists were injured during the recent Gen Z protests, with some reportedly singled out for attack.
“Justice cannot remain elusive. Catherine Wanjeri, who was shot three times at close range, continues to wait for accountability. Eric Isinta too awaits closure,” she added.
Held under the theme “Truth, Trust and Technology: The Place of Journalism in the Digital Era,” the convention brought together editors, journalists, government representatives, regulators and development partners to reflect on the future of journalism in Kenya.
Ms Kananu underscored that economic pressure is now among the most serious threats to media freedom, citing delayed payments for government advertising, shrinking revenues, and the growing dominance of global technology platforms.
To address these challenges, she called for the establishment of a National Media Sustainability and Innovation Fund to support newsroom modernisation, fact-checking initiatives and investigative journalism.
She further urged the government to:
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Liberalise advertising procurement to ensure fairness and reduce overreliance on a single client.
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Require global digital platforms to share a fair portion of revenue generated from Kenyan content.
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Channel part of recovered proceeds of corruption into strengthening independent fact-checking desks and public-interest journalism.
On public broadcasting, the KEG President appealed for modernisation of KBC’s infrastructure, predictable and adequate public funding, and strong safeguards for editorial independence, emphasising that a credible public broadcaster is essential for national identity, cohesion and education.
Ms Kananu also called for legislative and policy alignment between the Communications Authority of Kenya and the Media Council of Kenya to eliminate overlapping mandates, protect media self-regulation and enhance regulatory clarity in the digital era.
Looking ahead to the 2027 General Election, she cautioned that disinformation, online harassment and political intimidation are likely to escalate, heightening the need for a strong, independent and well-resourced media.
She urged the government to partner with media houses to strengthen preparedness for the elections, enhance safety protocols, support robust fact-checking, and guarantee free, fair and balanced coverage.
“A thriving media begins with thriving journalists,” Ms Kananu noted, appealing to media owners and managers to prioritise the welfare, dignity and mental health of staff, and to ensure timely payment of salaries. She recalled that the media fraternity has lost colleagues, some of whom were working under immense pressure.
The KEG President also highlighted the Guild’s continued investment in strengthening journalism standards through specialised training programmes and professional resources, including manuals on climate change, biotechnology and trade reporting.
She appealed for stronger support from both the government and the public to sustain these initiatives, stressing that they serve the broader national interest.
“When the media thrives, the nation thrives. When journalists are safe, citizens are safe. When truth is protected, democracy is protected,” Ms Kananu said in her closing remarks
