NAIROBI — As Kenya’s digital landscape evolves at breakneck speed, top officials and media leaders are urging journalists to hold the line between speed and truth.
Speaking at the 2025 Annual Media Summit in Nairobi, Information, Communications and Digital Economy Cabinet Secretary William Kabogo called for greater accountability in an age defined by instant information and online noise.
“We live in a time where news travels faster than ever,” Kabogo told the audience. “But with that speed comes responsibility. The media must do more than inform it must uphold truth, protect national values, and serve the public good.”
His remarks set the tone for a gathering focused on the summit’s theme: Public Interest in the Era of Technology: Media Accountability and National Values.
Kabogo’s comments came amid growing concern over misinformation, polarisation, and the pressure journalists face to deliver fast news in an online-first world.
“When media is hijacked by propaganda or unchecked bias,” he said, “we risk tearing apart the social fabric that holds us together.”
He appealed not only to journalists but also to editors, bloggers and influencers groups now shaping public opinion as much as, or more than, traditional outlets.
“I urge all content creators to commit to fairness, truth and responsibility,” he added.
The call was echoed by other speakers, including leaders from the Kenya Editors’ Guild, Kenya Union of Journalists and the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner. All warned that public trust in media is wearing thin, and that journalists must work harder to earn it back.
David Omwoyo, CEO of the Media Council of Kenya, presented fresh data that underscored the shifting terrain. According to the council’s latest survey, television remains the country’s top news source at 26 per cent, closely followed by social media (24 per cent) and radio (23 per cent).
“Citizen TV leads in viewership, now commanding 53 per cent—up from 35 per cent in 2023,” Omwoyo said. “And Tuko is the most visited online news site, with readership rising to 40 per cent last year.”
The data also showed how audience habits shift throughout the day. Radio dominates the mornings, while television draws more viewers in the evening. Among radio stations, Radio Citizen leads with 29 per cent, followed by Radio Jambo and Radio Maisha.
Beyond numbers, speakers repeatedly returned to one message: the need for ethical, transparent journalism in a noisy digital world.
Representatives from the Kenya National Commission for UNESCO and the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation urged collaboration between government, civil society, and media houses to counter online misinformation and promote digital literacy.
“We must protect citizens not just from falsehoods, but from the erosion of civic responsibility,” said one panellist.
The summit ended with a consensus: while technology is changing how Kenyans consume news, it’s up to journalists and those who shape the news cycle to make sure the truth still matters.
