David Mwenje, a member of Kenya’s ruling National Rainbow Coalition (Narc) party, recently tore into the Kenyan press questioning its legitimacy in criticising decisions made by Parliament. Mwenje reminded the press that ‘Kenyans’ and not the media had elected his fellow MPs. Curiously, the Kenyan press barely responded to the challenge. Mwenje’s outburst – or at least its subtext – seems to have defined what many now see as Narc’s role for the media in Kenya after the dictatorship of Daniel Arap Moi.
There are four English daily newspapers in Kenya, namely The Daily Nation, The East African Standard, Kenya Times and The People. The Daily Nation is by far the largest selling newspaper, not only in Kenya but also in the East African region. Partly owned by His Highness the Aga Khan, the Nation Media Group is a multi-million dollar media empire with interests in neighbouring Uganda and Tanzania. Its financial clout during the Moi era meant it remained relatively independent, unlike the other newspapers which were either run by government proxies or were easily bullied into acquiescence.
The extent to which The Daily Nation contributed to the democratisation of Kenya’s public space cannot be overstated. Always seen as independent – sometimes even oppositional when necessary – the newspaper’s influence in Kenya is revered. In the run-up to the historic elections that saw Moi and his party relinquish power after years of tyranny dating back to 1964, The Daily Nation easily constituted an opposition. In fact, it engaged more in advocacy than impartial journalism, taking over the role of opposition from a non-functioning parliamentary democracy and a seemingly headless civil society. The newspaper became a site of alternative politics and a voice for the popular aspirations of the masses.
But with its former allies now in power, questions are being asked as to the role of the newspaper and by extension the oppositional press in Kenya post Moi. Criticism of the Narc government since it came to power in January has been unusually placid in the country’s print media. This is so even in the face of human rights abuses, which the press never tolerated during Moi’s presidency.
President Mwai Kibaki is now a regular feature on the front pages of Kenya’s newspapers. Suddenly, Kenyans want to know where the president attends church services, rather than being informed of the constitutional review process currently under way. Columnists are systematically labelling voices opposed to Kibaki ‘disgruntled rebels”. Formerly acerbic forces that defined the character of the oppositional press have quietened. If there is criticism, it is relatively mild, and is often drowned out by the newspapers’ rather uncharacteristic patience with officialdom. This is despite widespread disapproval of Narc’s delivery on its election pledges, such as a new constitution within 90 days of gaining power.
Kenya’s ruling party has reneged on a number of other pre-election promises. While it is normal that political parties, once in power, quickly realise that governance is a different game to the rhetoric of political campaigns, in Kenya it seems likely that Narc will get away with a lot. Critics fear that without a vibrant opposition the country might not change in any appreciable way. The parliamentary opposition is too weak, disjointed and outnumbered to be defined as ‘viable’. For the media, Narc’s rise to power could portend the death of the oppositional press.
That Narc has enjoyed overwhelming goodwill from Kenyans is not in doubt. To maintain this goodwill amidst the growing frustrations of the electorate has meant a gradual co-option of members of the press.
The government’s spin doctors are in control. A former news editor in a leading TV network in the country is currently the director of the Presidential Press Service. Also, a columnist with The Daily Nation, until December last year a fierce critic of the Moi government, now has the position of permanent secretary in the Office of the President.
With Narc’s co-opting of the oppositional press goes the only outlet for alternative politics in Kenya. The argument that Kenyans should let Narc grow out of the formative stages of governance appears to have won the soul of the press. Yet this could turn out to be a terrible capitulation to power. Indeed, the Kenyan press might not have to carve itself a role in the new dispensation—it seems Narc has its role already decided.
George Ogola was formerly a journalist at the East African Standard (Kenya) and the Nairobi Correspondent for NewsAfrica (UK). He is currently a student at Wits University, pursuing doctoral studies in “Popular Culture and the Media in Kenya”.