As we mark the 2023 World Press Freedom Day and recognise the best performing journalists in the Annual Journalism Excellence Awards (AJEA), it is important to make some observations that I have gathered in my long relationship with the media in by both legal and political life, and the way I see things as the Speaker of the National Assembly.
A free and independent media is a cornerstone of democracy. At its best, an independent media ensures that a country's government functions openly and transparently, and that the rule of law is applied equally to everyone.
Citizens have a right to objective information about the performance of their elected leaders, their state, and their county governments. This enables them to make informed choices and hold their leaders and their governments to account. Your work has provided that.
Through the work of the media, journalists have revealed politicians and people in positions of authority committing fraud to secure favors. Journalists have exposed the deception in the delivery of government services, corruption and impunity.
On many occasions, journalists have highlighted pertinent issues of interest to our communities and the government has responded or intervened. A case in point is the Malindi church, where a self-styled Pastor misled a congregation to starve to death to meet Jesus. The culprit was apprehended, and the law will take its course.
Free and independent media freedom holds the transformation of societies in ways perhaps unimaginable only a year ago. However, media freedom is undermined by a failing to follow professional ethics and tendency to stick to adversarial journalism targeting the Government. Journalists must stick to professional ethics and focus on setting a national agenda.
The media is more crucial that the three arms of government meet the fourth estate from time to time to promote open exchanges, forge bonds, foster understanding, and build one nation called Kenya. I celebrate journalists who do a sterling job despite the difficult circumstances and remain independent and credible. To paraphrase one American journalist, Jonah Goldberg, "those we honour tonight understand that their mission is not to defend "their" side, or to avoid reporting as a comfort to the "other" side. The focus is, and must be, on the truth."
But, we have a reason to hope for change. We see in the reporting of those we honour the commitment to fight back, even against great odds, to make a difference for Kenyans. To the brave journalists, I know that it is difficult to stand up in the face of concerted efforts to silence you. To the editors and media representatives: I want to thank you for providing journalists with the means to develop well corroborated stories and to report them to the public.
I want to indicate here and without fear of contradiction that as the National Assembly Speaker, I am committed to the protection of media freedom, and will not allow the use of the August House to pass laws that curtail the same. In the same vein, I want to encourage the media industry to engage my office and Parliament to work on improving the legal and policy framework for media freedom and.
- The writer is the National Assembly Speaker
