Snubbed debates: Who are the real losers - Media or Politicians?

The presidential debate-or what was there of it needs to act as a wake-up call for Kenya media houses. While Eliud Muthiora Kariara stood on the stage alone and had the nation’s attention making the Kenyan youth proud, the media was faced with the harsh truth; they had given their power away.

While Eliud Muthiora Kariara stood on the stage alone and had the nation’s attention making the Kenyan youth proud, the media was faced with the harsh truth; they had given their power away.

There are very many critical things happening in Kenya as we speak; there is a Cholera outbreak in Nairobi, nurses are on strike and many other things we should know of. However, for the past few months, Kenyan media houses have given us minute-by-minute updates on politicians and their theatrics; mind you these are same predictable narratives that happen every five years-nothing newsworthy about them.

When it comes to politics, unfortunately, any publicity is good publicity. Therefore with the media house giving major free airtime to politicians, they have lost their power over them and now they are losing the interest of common mwananchi.

This was clear on social media, as some Kenyans supported the candidates who did not show up stating that the media houses had shown themselves to be biased and unnecessary.

The harsh truth is that politicians at this moment may not need media; they have used them to push their narrative and now they can use that momentum to push themselves alone.

It is time for media houses to reclaim their power.