Kenya cherishes press freedom but media players must be responsible with their liberties, a top government official said yesterday.
State Department of Telecommunications and Broadcasting Principal Secretary Edward Kisiangani said freedom goes hand in hand with responsibility.
"While World Press Freedom Day reminds us of media freedom as the epitome of universal liberty, it also reminds us of the burden of responsibility that goes with that liberty," the PS said.
He said the media should not use their liberty to trample on other people's rights as their liberty is not freedom from accountability.
The PS was speaking on Wednesday during the Annual Media Summit to mark the World Press Freedom Day under the auspice of the Media Council of Kenya.
Media practitioners and stakeholders from various media outlets met at the Safari Park Hotel in Nairobi for the event with delegates from Zambia, Uganda, Tanzania and Zimbabwe also present.
The theme for this year's summit was "Shaping a Future of Rights - Freedom of Expression as a Driver for all other Human Rights.
Kenya Editors Guild President Zubeida Kananu decried that journalists face many challenges while reporting.
She said journalist's safety is threatened both physically and in digital spaces.
"In the past year, scores of journalists were injured while going about their duties," she said.
The KEG president said journalists experience violence from both state and non-state actors.
She said on the digital platforms, enemies of freedom of expression have been unrelenting in their attacks on journalists and media houses.
"We call for an immediate stop to these violations. Journalists must be allowed to exercise their constitutional right to do their professional work," Kananu urged.
On the changing economic dynamics in the media industry, Kananu said media houses in Kenya and Africa are facing serious revenue challenges, some bordering on the extreme.
"Unfortunately, journalists are taking the brunt of this unfortunate situation, which has seen salaries delayed for months."
Kananu said there is need to find new regulatory levers to encourage innovation, beat off exportation of advertising revenue while still serving public interest.
The Media Owners Association chairperson Agnes Kalekye said huge fines for defamation cases are negatively affecting the progress of media houses.
Kalekye said legal harassment undermines public interest reporting, in cases where libel cases drain immense resources and time with the risk of prosecution.
She said at times, courts award huge fines for defamation cases, yet some are frivolous.
"These awards are crippling the media and if not checked they might bankrupt the media," she said.
Kalekye said this has made editorial managers tread carefully as they balance between fair comment and defamation.
"A simple mistake could cost a media company millions of shilling in legal fees and subsequent awards," Kalekye said.
Kenya Union of Journalists Secretary Genera Eric Oduor urged media players to guard press freedoms the country has achieved.
"As we mark this world freedom day, let us remember our brothers and sisters in Sudan some who are in exile," Oduor said.
Oduor was reminiscent that as ICT CS Eliud Owalo was being interviewed for the job he said he gave a promise to the media.
"He said he will champion and promote self-regulation," Oduor said.
Oduor said such a move would make the media independent.
