Kenya
Editors’ Guild (KEG) has made a strong appeal to the government to safeguard
digital freedoms and support a free and ethical press.
Speaking
during the commemorations to mark World Press Freedom Day 2025, KEG President
Zubeidah Kananu urged the government to refrain from clamping down on digital
platforms.
Kananu
called for the enforcement of existing laws and the closing of legal and policy
gaps to ensure a safer and freer online environment.
“Laws can
and should be enforced without violating constitutional rights,” Kananu emphasised.
She called
for greater commitment from all stakeholders to defend press freedom while
embracing technology responsibly.
“The future of journalism in Kenya must be brave,
bold, ethical, and free.”
Kananu also
urged the government to invest in affordable and reliable network
infrastructure across the country, alongside providing tax
incentives, particularly for media houses, to adopt emerging technologies.
“We are also
open to partnering with the government and tech firms to develop homegrown AI
solutions that serve the unique needs of our media,” she said.
KEG has
already submitted a sector working group report on artificial intelligence to
the Ministry of Information, with specific recommendations on responsible integration
of AI into the media industry.
Kananu
expressed hope that the ministry would implement the proposals in full.
This year’s
observance comes against the backdrop of a significant legal development.
“We mark
this day just hours after High Court Justice Bahati Mwamuye issued orders
stopping the Communications Authority of Kenya, the Attorney General, the ICT
Cabinet Secretary, and major telecom providers from interfering with Internet
access, pending the hearing of a case filed by seven civil society organizations,”
said Kananu.
She warned
that recent threats to press freedom signal a worrying trend.
“The CA’s
threat to revoke Standard Group PLC’s broadcast license over debt and the
barring of BBC from privately screening its Blood Parliament documentary point
to a disturbing pattern of silencing the media.”
Kananu
reiterated that a free press remains a cornerstone of democracy and must not be
undermined.
In a
forward-looking announcement, she revealed that Kenya will be bidding to host
the 2026 Africa Media Convention, with the proposal to be formally submitted at
the end of this month.
The Kenya
Editors’ Guild, a not-for-profit professional body, brings together senior
editors across print, broadcast, digital, and other media platforms.
It advocates for media independence, ethical
journalism, and provides a platform for industry dialogue and collaboration.
World Press
Freedom Day honours the fundamental principles of press freedom and
commemorates journalists who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
