How the Media in Kenya has Acted Ultra Vires to their Role as the Government Watchdog

Abstract

This article focuses on the media’s position as a government watchdog and the cases in which it has gone beyond this capacity. The media has played an important role in Kenya, particularly during the fight for independence, when the African press was utilized to raise awareness and support for the Mau Mau. During President Jomo Kenyatta’s and Moi’s regimes, the media had to conform to a number of media regulations and state supervision, limiting freedom of expression. The struggle for multipartism piqued international interest, resulting in the media’s rapid expansion. With such enormous strides, the media had a great obligation to regulate the content in informing. With such significant progress, the media bears a tremendous deal of responsibility for controlling material and informing the public about the projects the government is undertaking. The media plays a critical role in combating corruption, campaigning for democracy, and raising awareness of emerging issues. However, due to ownership and state influence, the media has broadcast fake news and covered biased stories in order to discredit political figures or entrepreneurs.The article investigates how the media has assisted the government in being transparent about its projects while also acting selfishly to promote their own private agendas