By Ng’wono Bw’Ontwere
Kenya’s media fraternity gathered at the Sun & Sand Beach Resort in Kilifi for the 8th Annual Kenya Editors’ Guild (KEG) Convention, officially opened by Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communications and the Digital Economy, William Kabogo.
The theme—Truth, Trust and Technology: The Place of Journalism in the Digital Era—set the tone for a candid and forward-looking conversation about the future of journalism in a rapidly digitising society.
CS Kabogo praised Kenya’s legacy of robust and influential journalism, acknowledging the contributions of past and present editors in shaping national identity and public debate.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to journalist welfare and media freedom, citing ongoing collaboration with the Media Council of Kenya (MCK) and the importance of self-regulation.
He also highlighted the Revised Code of Conduct for Journalism Practice (2025) and the role of strong professional institutions in strengthening public trust.
Joining him was Principal Secretary for Broadcasting and Telecommunications, Mr. Stephen Isaboke, who called on the media industry to embrace innovation and uphold press responsibility.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to safeguarding constitutional freedoms, including access to information and free expression, and outlined ongoing reforms to the Kenya Information and Communications Act (KICA), the Media Council Act, and complementary regulations.
These reforms, he said, aim to ensure the media remains “an active partner in governance” and a key enabler of the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
Mr. Isaboke acknowledged the mounting pressures facing media houses, including downsizing, job losses, and declining advertising revenues.
He encouraged collaborative solutions and challenged media owners to lead in developing innovative responses to industry disruption.
He also spotlighted Kenya’s expanding digital infrastructure under BETA, including 100,000 km of fibre-optic cable, 1,450 digital hubs, and 25,000 free public Wi-Fi hotspots.
These investments, he said, will unlock new opportunities for content creation, digital journalism, and youth participation in the creative economy.
Addressing the rise of misinformation, disinformation, and deepfakes, Mr. Isaboke urged editors to prioritise factual, development-oriented reporting and resist editorial practices that incite political tensions.
He called on regulators to ensure media freedoms are not abused or weaponised.
Beyond reforms at the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC), the PS revealed plans to recalibrate the Kenya News Agency and the Directorate of Information and Broadcasting to anchor government communication at county and sub-county levels.
The convention concluded with a shared commitment to protect press freedom, embrace digital transformation, and ensure journalism continues to serve democracy with truth, trust, and responsibility.
