Twenty years after the Windhoek Declaration on press freedom

At <strong>the</strong> time, <strong>the</strong>re was a tendency
by <strong>the</strong> state to monopolise airwaves
because of <strong>the</strong> perceived strength
of radio and TV, and <strong>the</strong>ir attendant
‘threat’ to <strong>the</strong> status quo. Moi’s
government saw broadcast media
as a preserve of <strong>the</strong> state and
<strong>the</strong> ruling elite. For a long time,
‘independent’ radio and TV stations
were only allowed to broadcast in
urban areas. Even where limited
private ownership was allowed,
<strong>the</strong>re was covert control through
pressure on owners, editors and
even advertisers. This stunted media
growth and frustrated investors.
“All state-owned
media shall: ‘afford
fair opportunity for
<strong>the</strong> presentation of
divergent views and
dissenting opinions’.”
Once Moi was out of power in 2002,
private media took off. Kenya is
now home to 120 radio stations,
most of <strong>the</strong>m FM. Most are based
outside of urban areas and <strong>the</strong>y
broadcast in local languages. 150
investors are still awaiting licences.
The country has also seen <strong>the</strong> rise of
television stations with a national
reach. ‘Independent’ TV stations
like Kenya Television Network,
Nation TV, Citizen TV and K24 have
emerged. More than 60 investors
are awaiting licences and <strong>the</strong>
government promises to issue <strong>the</strong>se,
and many more, once <strong>the</strong> migration
from analogue is completed in 2012
(<strong>the</strong>re are indications, however, that
this deadline will not be met due to
budgetary and o<strong>the</strong>r constraints).
Mobile telephony penetration now
stands at 60 percent according to
<strong>the</strong> latest Communication Commission
of Kenya statistics. The cost of
handsets and calling rates are dropping.
Internet penetration is growing.
Mobile television via mobile telephony
is a reality. Mobile internet
is readily available. News is available
on mobile phones as news media
struggle to attract more audiences.
The media scene is looking up; it has
never been better for media organisations.
This growth in <strong>the</strong> media sector is
not, however, without challenges. It
has meant a reduction in audience
and advertisement share. This means
<strong>the</strong> struggle for survival is intense.
Although this should have raised
<strong>the</strong> quality of media and journalism,
<strong>the</strong>re are concerns that <strong>the</strong> media
are continually dumbing down and
sensationalising issues to survive.
Media concentration is growing as
organisations like The Nation Media
Group, Standard, Royal Media and
Radio Africa groups dominate <strong>the</strong>
market and use <strong>the</strong>ir enormous
resources to stifle competition,
plurality and content diversity.
Despite <strong>the</strong>se concerns, however,
<strong>the</strong> advantages outweigh <strong>the</strong>
disadvantages, thus far.
Section 2: Pluralism
Media in Africa - 2011 | 83