Kenya’s ranking in press freedom has stalled at number 95 out of 180 countries polled.
According to a media watchdog, Reporters Without Borders, the country scored 45.95 points on the press freedom abuse scale, where 0 is the best and 100 the worst.
The report was presented Wednesday as the world marked World Press Freedom Day.
Speakers at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre function lamented at the erosion of media freedom in recent years.
Degree of freedom
The index reflects the degree of freedom that journalists, new media, and netizens (internet citizens) enjoy in each country and the efforts made by the authorities to respect freedom.
The Media Council of Kenya's acting chief executive, Victor Bwire, said media independence was a challenge because of control of advertising revenue and ownership and political influence.
“Through such formations as the Government Advertising Agency and MyGov, backed by a directive that government-sponsored advertisements should be minimised in private media, players see this as a way to interfere with the independence of the press and influence editorial content,” he said.
“There is lack of commitment by the police to take any action against those who target journalists. Some of the attacks are perpetrated by the security personnel themselves,” said Kenya Editors Guild Chairman Linus Kaikai.
Recent cases of suppression of press freedom include the killing of journalists John Kituyi and Francis Nyaruri and the attack on Isaiah Gwengi (Standard) and Duncan Wanga (Citizen Weekly).
Other victims include Sarah Ndung’u, (K24), Moses Masinde (K24), Shaban Makokha (The Star), Lydia Nyawira (Standard), Grace Gitau (Nation), Jane Wangeci (The Star), Charles Mathai (People Daily), Patrick Kimanthi (K24), and Bill Otieno (NTV).
Kenya Union of Journalists Secretary-General Eric Oduor said poor pay and working conditions are a hindrance to the independence of journalists and the freedom of the media.
