- The PS asked MCK to execute its mandate to ultimately enhance professionalism in the media.
- He also urged the Media Council to engage media owners towards adopting viable business models and professional reporting.
The government has pledged to support the media to undertake its operations.
State Department for Broadcasting and Telecommunications PS Edward Kisiangani has said relevant legislation will also be put in place.
He said the government has also released money towards settling pending bills.
"Out of the pending Sh1.2 billion, we have so far released Sh244 million to media houses. However, no media house has reported that and most continue subjecting their staff to job cuts. This is unfair and should not be allowed,” Kisiangani said.
The PS said the government through the Government Advertising Agency is committed to supporting media viability.
"The government recognises the critical place of independent and free media. We will support the media to play its role in contributing to matters of national interest through responsible reporting," he said.
Kisiangani said the government will work closely with the media towards pushing service delivery and delivering on its development agenda.
"Countries that have a vibrant media have a vivacious development agenda. It is not in our brief to fight anybody, including the media as media freedom is enshrined in the Constitution," he said.
"We will work closely with all stakeholders to institute laws that will streamline media operations. The Media Council should be at the forefront in these efforts."
He further cautioned media organisations against mistreating their staff, in view of the recent layoffs and pay cuts across media houses.
"The Bill of Rights in Chapter 4 of our Constitution gives the media freedom to execute its mandate. However, this should come with utmost responsibility," the PS said.
Kisiangani said private media should not be allowed to threaten existence of the media through unfriendly business practices.
He said media workers should be protected from rogue businesses.
The PS also urged the Media Council to engage media owners towards adopting viable business models and professional reporting.
He also implored media organisations to embrace innovative approaches in their operations in view of the digital shift.
Kisiangani further asked MCK to execute its mandate to ultimately enhance professionalism in the media.
“As a regulator the Media Council should ensure responsible reporting by the media. The Media Complaints Commission should pick any breaches to the Code of Conduct for the Practice of Journalism in Kenya and guide the media accordingly,” he said.
The PS said media should interrogate the government’s blueprint to report objectively on areas around agriculture, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, housing and settlement, healthcare, the digital superhighway, the creative economy, environment and climate change.
He also said the media should avoid political inclinations as governments change from time to time.
MCK chief executive officer David Omwoyo said the council has embarked on reviewing its Strategic Plan in line with the digital transformation of the media space.
He said liberalisation of the media space has seen exponential growth of media and asked media organisations to uphold professionalism.
Omwoyo said the council will continue engaging stakeholders in efforts to promote viability and capacity building on coverage of matters of national interest.