The Political Economy of the Media in Kenya: From Kenyatta's Nation-Building Press to Kibaki's Local-Language FM Radio

The freedom to be silent? Market pressures on journalistic normative ideals at the Nation Media Group in Kenya

“…The concept of 'financialisation' may be used interchangeably with the concept of 'corporatisation' of media industries to refer to a system of media production, distribution, ownership and funding of media companies that is dominated by corporations and governed by the capitalist imperatives of maximising profits for investors, stockholders and advertisers (Almiron-Roig 2011, 39). Kenya has experienced a rapid development of the media since the 1990s, which has resulted in structural changes in media organisations (Mwangi 2010;Odhiambo 2002;Ogola 2011). These changes have in turn influenced the ways in which journalists make their professional decisions.…”

A clash between journalistic and capitalist values? How advertisers meddle in journalists’ decisions at the Nation Media Group in Kenya

“…Most works on the political economy of the media in Kenya (Ogola 2011;King'ara 2010;Makokha 2010) focus on media-government relations and often ignore the implicit economic and political pressures that put journalists in a dilemma as they struggle to deliver profits to the media owner and adhere to their proclaimed professional/ethical values. This article therefore shifts focus to examining how economic factors such as maximizing advertising revenue influence journalists' professional decisions at the NMG in Kenya.…”

“…Just like in most other countries in Africa, the media landscape in Kenya took on a new configuration in the 1990s when the democratic wind of change swept through the continent with the increased cry for multiparty politics and the liberalization and privatization of the media (Ali 2010;Makali 2003;Ogola 2011). The most significant changes affecting the development of the media in Kenya has been the return of multiparty politics in 1992, the ushering in of a new political dispensation a decade later in 2002 and the passing of a new constitution in 2010.…”

“…Up until 1992, the then KANU government strongly controlled the media, especially broadcast media, and relentlessly suppressed any dissident voices; hence, the media sector experienced a stunted growth (Ali 2009;Makali 2003;Odhiambo 2002;Ogola 2011;Oriare 2010). Political and economic liberalization in the early 1990s led to media proliferation in Kenya.…”

“…The development of Kenya's news media system can be said to be closely tied to the country's political history (Ogola 2011); the performance and development of the media in Kenya have largely been influenced by a range of socio-political and economic factors. Just like in most other countries in Africa, the media landscape in Kenya took on a new configuration in the 1990s when the democratic wind of change swept through the continent with the increased cry for multiparty politics and the liberalization and privatization of the media (Ali 2010;Makali 2003;Ogola 2011).…”