Trade Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui has urged the media to exercise greater responsibility in their reporting, warning that sensational coverage could tarnish Kenya’s international image and harm trade prospects.
Speaking on Thursday during a breakfast meeting with editors in Nairobi, Kinyanjui said the media plays a crucial role in shaping global perceptions about Kenya’s stability and economic potential.
He noted that investors often rely on news coverage to make decisions on where to channel their capital.
“Like what happened at the JKIA when Raila Odinga’s body was brought from India, we saw how Kenyans forced their way into the airport and even boarded the RAO 001,” Kinyanjui said.
“You can’t force them to leave because these are people who are mourning. But I’m not sure what the media wants to show the world, because our airport would be degraded by those reports.”
When the plane carrying Raila’s body landed, large crowds forced their way into the airport, with some individuals attempting to assist the airfreight crew in offloading the casket.
The situation briefly got out of control, prompting authorities to allow mourners space to grieve. But later on tried to get the casket out of the plane to take it to Kasarani.
Kinyanjui cautioned that the way such incidents are portrayed could have far-reaching economic consequences, particularly for sectors that depend on investor confidence and international perception.
“If it’s degraded, how does this help our trade?” he posed.
“It is imperative for the media to portray a positive image of Kenya so that we have investors coming in.”
He said trade thrives in an environment of trust and stability, and the media has a responsibility to highlight Kenya’s strengths, including its growing manufacturing sector, infrastructure development, and vibrant innovation ecosystem.
“Foreign investors look for consistency and confidence. When headlines focus only on chaos or conflict, it overshadows the progress we’ve made as a country,” he added.
Kinyanjui urged journalists to strike a balance between press freedom and national interest, emphasising that responsible storytelling can strengthen Kenya’s position as a leading trade and investment hub in the region.
“Kenya’s story should be told with honesty, but also with pride,” he said.
“We have made progress, and we must guard our reputation as a stable and promising trade hub.”
He said newsrooms should focus more on promoting the right image for Kenya.
"On social media, people will frame an opinion and try to lure others to buy into that opinion. And that same opinion is not something positive," he said.
