By Dr. Ezekiel Mutua
The media in Kenya is widely seen as one of the most corrupt institutions.
The reason they often unite against me is because I confront them directly and expose the corruption within.
As a trained journalist, I worked at the Nation Media Group (NMG) for nine years between1994-2002.
NMG was then the largest media house in East and Central Africa.
I realized the media’s immense power in shaping a nation’s future.
This inspired me to promote professionalism in the sector.
For over 20 years, I have strived to clean up the media space because ethical journalism is vital for democracy and justice, while a corrupt media can lead a country into chaos.
Two decades ago, as Secretary General of the Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ), I challenged the rampant gutter press that was destroying reputations and families.
I pushed for regulation, which led to the establishment of the Media Council of Kenya (MCK) and its Code of Ethics-documents that bear my personal imprint.
I served on the Media Council’s board for seven years, helping to institutionalize it.
In 2007, as Director of Information and Public Communications, I worked with Prof. Bitange Ndemo who was the PS of ICT to promote media pluralism through digital migration, breaking the concentration of media ownership and enabling diverse new digital broadcasters, including faith-based stations that you see today.
“Despite resistance and legal battles from established media houses, digital migration succeeded, contributing to Kenya’s robust ICT infrastructure.”
-Dr Ezekiel Mutua
Later, as CEO of the Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB), I tackled harmful content such as LGBTQ material, gambling ads, and inappropriate music and adverts targeting youth.
I banned such content and partnered with the Ministry of Education to sponsor the National Drama and Film Festival.
I also led efforts to reshape Africa’s image in global film, establishing the African Pavilion at Cannes and serving as Vice President of the African Continent Standards Setting Harmonisation Committee.
Currently, at the Music Copyright Society of Kenya (MCSK), I am again at odds with the media.
Broadcasters, who are the largest consumers of music, are supposed to pay royalties to support artists, but only about 15% comply.
This non-payment contributes to artists’ poverty. Instead of addressing this, many media houses distort the narrative, accusing Collective Management Organizations (CMOs) of corruption to avoid paying what they owe.
Positive stories about CMOs are suppressed, while negatives are exaggerated to undermine their credibility.
This explains why a fake public notice about me was published recently despite the fact that the media house knew it was fake.
My commitment has always been to uphold ethical media and protect the rights of creators, despite facing opposition from entrenched interests within the media industry.
This is my calling and my purpose for existence. It’s a role I have fully prepared myself for.
That’s why I have pursued knowledge of this sector, obtaining a Master’s Degree and PhD in Communication Studies and gaining global experience in media matters.
Kenya will never change as long as we have a corrupt and unethical media.
-The author is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Music Copyright Society of Kenya (MCSK). This article was first published on his Facebook page.