More should be done to guarantee the freedom of media

Victor Bwire, Director, Media Training and Development at the Media Council of Kenya.

The International Day to End Impunity Against Journalists was marked on November 2 under the theme, ‘Keep Truth Alive’. Reports by various bodies point to a troubled media industry, largely because of the business’ operating environment, predatory behaviour by big technology companies, changes in revenue flows, shrinking democratic space and the ravages of Covid-19. The theme shines the spotlight on local journalists working on corruption and politics in non-conflict situations, who represented 93 per cent of journalists who have died in the past decade.

Though Kenya’s press freedom looks impressive on paper and shows an industry in rapid growth, the situation of journalists is moving in the opposite direction according the 2021 World Press Freedom Index. The already bad working conditions and safety situation of journalists in Kenya has been made worse by the effects of Covid-19, as seen in mass sackings, non-payment of salaries and wages and harassment of journalists.