An Exploration of Media Regulation and Accountability

Abstract

The media sector in Kenya is fairly robust compared to other media markets in the continent. Such robustness requires that media are equally accountable to their publics. However, what has occurred in Kenya is increasing layers of regulation with a limited structure for the media to be accountable. Given the various sets of regulatory frameworks, the sector could be choked by these layers of laws. However, not much has been put in place to hold media accountable. What exists in the form of accountability are ad-hoc mechanisms, such as social media reactions to news stories. But even in these cases, the focus has been on international media rather than local. Kenya still needs to develop mechanisms for holding the media accountable.