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Uhuru and the Media

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Uhuru and the Media

Uhuru Kenyatta's relationship with Kenya's media evolved from relatively open engagement during his first term to growing tension and eventual hostile confrontation in 2018. An incident where Uhuru ordered the shutdown of three major television stations became symbolic of governance challenges to press freedom, raising international concerns about democratic space.

First Term Media Relations

During Uhuru's first term (2013-2017), media relationships were competitive but generally functional. Kenya's media landscape was vibrant, with multiple independent outlets, online platforms, and international bureaus. Major daily newspapers (Daily Nation, Standard, The East African) maintained editorial independence and investigated government activities.

Television stations (KTN, Citizen, NTV) also maintained editorial independence, though concerns existed about ownership concentration. Business tycoons with government connections owned major media outlets, creating potential conflicts of interest. However, professional standards generally prevailed over direct owner interference in editorial decisions.

The government engaged with media through press briefings, ministerial statements, and strategic communications. Opposition and civil society also had media access, though perhaps with less frequency than government. Overall, press freedom indices rated Kenya relatively well for East Africa, though below global democratic standards.

Post-2017 Election Tension

Following the 2017 election annulment and re-run crisis, media reporting became more divisive along ethnic and political lines. Opposition-aligned outlets emphasized fraud allegations and questioned IEBC competence, while government-aligned media emphasized election security and procedural regularity.

This polarization reflected broader societal divisions, but media outlets arguably amplified rather than moderated these tensions. Some outlets received government resources or business from government agencies, creating incentives for favorable coverage. Other outlets, lacking government access, found niches in opposition and civil society coverage.

The August 2018 Shutdown

On August 9, 2018, during a period of opposition mobilization and speculation about parallel government swearing-in ceremonies, Uhuru ordered the shutdown of three major television stations: KTN, Citizen, and NTV. The government's stated justification was that the stations were inciting violence and spreading false information about an alleged "parallel inauguration."

The shutdown lasted several hours before being reversed following international pressure. However, the incident was unprecedented in post-2007 Kenya and sent a chilling message about government's willingness to use force against media. The shutdown violated the constitution's press freedom guarantees and international media freedom standards.

Investigations into the shutdown revealed that government officials, acting on executive direction, had ordered Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) to cease transmissions from the three stations. The exact chain of command and whether Uhuru personally approved the order was not definitively established, but the incident clearly occurred at executive direction.

Media Reaction and Consequences

Kenyan media responded with collective criticism and calls for accountability. International media freedom organizations (Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Reporters Without Borders) condemned the shutdown as a violation of press freedom. Western governments expressed concern about democratic backsliding.

The incident energized civil society and international partners to defend press freedom, creating pressure on Uhuru. The government subsequently announced that the shutdown was unjustified and that no legal justification existed for such action. However, no official accountability (disciplinary action against those responsible) was pursued.

The shutdown's longer-term impact was subtly chilling. While media outlets resumed operations, concerns persisted that government could intervene again. Some media outlets became more cautious in coverage of sensitive government issues, particularly those affecting the president directly.

Broader Media Concerns

Beyond the August 2018 incident, civil society raised concerns about:

Regulatory Pressure: The Communications Authority made decisions about broadcast licensing and frequency allocation that observers viewed as potentially political. Some questioned whether frequency allocation was designed to marginalize certain outlets.

Business Pressure: Businesses close to government received favorable advertising and regulatory treatment, potentially influencing their editorial decisions. Conversely, outlets critical of government faced business difficulties.

Online Regulation: Social media regulation proposals, framed as addressing misinformation, also raised press freedom concerns. Some feared that ambiguous definitions of "misinformation" could be used to suppress legitimate political speech.

Journalist Safety: While Kenya did not experience systematic violence against journalists, some reporters covering sensitive issues faced intimidation or legal threats. A few journalists were arrested briefly for reporting on government-critical matters.

Post-Handshake Media Dynamics

After the March 2018 handshake, the government's media presence became more sophisticated but also more coordinated. State media increasingly carried government messaging, while independent outlets maintained editorial independence but with awareness of potential state power.

By 2022, media coverage remained relatively diverse, but with undercurrents of self-censorship on sensitive issues. Journalists and outlet owners were aware of government capacity and apparent willingness to intervene, creating an environment of cautious rather than free reporting.

International Assessment

International press freedom indices (RSF, Freedom House) rated Kenya's press freedom as declining during Uhuru's tenure. While Kenya remained among Africa's more open media environments, the trend was negative compared to the post-2010 constitutional period.

Donors and international partners periodically raised press freedom in bilateral dialogue, but with inconsistent leverage. Kenya's strategic importance and donor dependence meant that press freedom was one among several concerns, not dominant in international relations.

Legacy and Democratic Implications

The August 2018 shutdown became iconic of Uhuru's relationship with press freedom: general acceptance of independent media but willingness to intervene forcefully when government interests were perceived as threatened. This pattern raised questions about Kenya's democratic institutions and the sustainability of press freedom under pressure.

The incident also reflected broader patterns: Uhuru's presidential prerogative, limited institutional checks on executive power, and the tension between personal power and constitutional constraints. While courts eventually would have invalidated a sustained shutdown order, the state's capacity to act without immediate legal constraint was demonstrated.

See Also

Sources

  1. Reporters Without Borders (2018). "Kenya: TV Shutdown Violates Press Freedom." https://rsf.org/
  2. Human Rights Watch (2018). "Kenya: August TV Station Shutdown Unjustified." https://www.hrw.org/
  3. Media Council of Kenya (2018). "Statement on the August 2018 TV Shutdown." https://mediacouncil.or.ke/
  4. Standard Media (2018). "Why Uhuru Shut Down Three TV Stations." https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/

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