SECTOR 3

3.6 The editorial independence of the state/public
broadcaster from political influence is guaranteed by
law and practiced.
A clause contained in Article 34 (4) line 2010 Constitution of Kenya states:
All State-owned media shall (a) be free to determine independently the editorial content of their
broadcasts or other communications;
(b) be impartial; and
(c) afford fair opportunity for the presentation of divergent views and
dissenting opinions.
This legal guarantee for editorial independence is yet to be tested.
In the meantime, there is no practice of editorial independence. The Presidential
Press Service (PPS), which covers the presidency, is located at the KBC headquarters.
They edit their own material that is aired without any input from the KBC editors.
“News editors cannot touch or comment on material from the PPS.”

Scores:
Individual scores:
1

Country does not meet indicator

2

Country meets only a few aspects of indicator

3

Country meets some aspects of indicator

4

Country meets most aspects of indicator

5

Country meets all aspects of the indicator

Average score:

2.2 (2005 = n/a, 2007 = n/a, 2009 = 1.6)

3.7 The state/public broadcaster is adequately funded
in a manner that protects it from arbitrary interference
through its budget and from all commercial pressure.
KBC has been forced to chase after advertising because state subsidies are barely
enough to sustain it. Television licence fees used to go to the KBC but that
stopped.
To survive, KBC has drifted away from its more conservative programming to
include more liberal content to attract advertising.

46

AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER KENYA 2012

Select target paragraph3