Media Council of Kenya CEO David Omwoyo has called on journalists to embrace a balanced approach to reporting, saying the media has a critical role not only in exposing governance failures but also in highlighting positive developments that can attract investment, tourism and economic opportunities.
Omwoyo said media coverage has had a measurable impact on Kenya’s economy, particularly through increased visibility in China. He pointed to the growing number of Chinese tourists visiting Kenya, attributing part of the increase to positive stories carried by Chinese media outlets operating in the country.
“We have seen the exact economic impact through the different Chinese media outlets in this country. By highlighting Kenya's attractions, wildlife, culture and tourism offerings, they have contributed to increased tourist arrivals and investment interest,” Omwoyo said.
He was speaking on Thursday during a forum on “Media's Role in Fostering People-to-People Connectivity: The Case of Kenya-China Relations” in Nairobi.
He noted that while the media must continue playing its watchdog role by exposing corruption, governance failures and threats to democracy, journalists should also recognise the value of reporting stories that showcase progress and opportunities.
“We highly uphold media houses that highlight weaknesses in a country and governance challenges so that we can improve. But we are also beginning to realise that good news stories sell and they deliver tangible results,” he said.
According to Omwoyo, positive reporting has helped reshape perceptions of Kenya among Chinese audiences, encouraging more visitors and investors to explore opportunities in the country.
“Chinese visitors are not only coming as contractors or road construction workers. Many are now coming as tourists, entrepreneurs and investors because they have seen what Kenya has to offer,” he said.
The MCK chief stressed that responsible journalism requires balance.
“When something is good, we should praise and highlight it. When there is room for improvement, we should point that out as well. Both functions are important,” he said.
Omwoyo cautioned against viewing development journalism and investigative journalism as competing concepts, arguing that both contribute to improving people's lives and strengthening democratic institutions.
“We should not create a scale where development media is seen as less important than investigative journalism. Good media, done well, whether highlighting what is not working or what is working, delivers results,” he said.
He observed that many journalists are trained to focus primarily on exposing failures but often overlook stories that demonstrate solutions, innovation and development.
“As journalists grow in the profession, they realise society has many needs. Some functions of the media may not have been emphasised enough, yet they remain critically important,” he said.
Omwoyo also welcomed partnerships between Kenyan and Chinese media institutions, saying such collaborations can help build capacity in emerging areas such as artificial intelligence, fact-checking, media monetisation and digital content production.
He specifically praised Radio Africa Group for pursuing strategic partnerships aimed at strengthening newsroom skills and technological capacity.
“For as long as these partnerships achieve meaningful results and do not compromise the core values of journalism and democracy, they should be encouraged,” he said.
The CEO further urged media stakeholders to work together across organisations rather than in isolation, saying broader collaboration would strengthen the sector and enhance its contribution to national development.
He said successful partnerships should ultimately be judged by measurable outcomes that improve people's lives and deepen mutual understanding between nations.
The forum, organised by The Star in partnership with the Chinese Embassy in Kenya, brought together diplomats, editors, journalists and government officials to discuss the media’s role in strengthening people-to-people ties between Kenya and China.
