Editon Consortium Journal of Media & Communication Studies (ECJMCS) ISSN: 2663-9300 Volume: 02 Issue: 01 | June-2020 Received: 20.05.2020; Accepted 25.05.2020; Published: 30.06.2020 at www.editoncpublishing.org Otieno, M.O. et al., Editon Cons. J. Media Commun. Stud., Double –Blind Peer Reviewed Journal Problematising News Media Ownership Patterns in Kenya: Who Controls Media Industry in the Global South? Michael Otieno Otieno1; Michael M. Ndonye2 1Media Scholar, Egerton University, Kenya 2Lecturer, Kabarak University, Kenya Corresponding author email [email protected] Abstract The main aim of this paper is to investigate media ownership patterns and analyse the implications of such patterns in Kenya—while thinking globally. Notably, media industry has attracted politicians and business tycoons around the world. It is one of the most lucrative industries that come with a lot of power and influence. From the literature reviewed in this analysis, it is evident that very few studies have been done to critically look at the media ownership patterns in Kenya and the implications such ownership have in the media market place. The paper is aimed at answering three questions. 1) What has been the media ownership pattern in Kenya since independence? 2) What does media ownership patterns mean to the Kenyan Media industry? 3) How does this pattern in Kenya compare to the rest of the world? Analysis from this research seems to demonstrate that most media outlets in Kenya are either politically owned or have some political agenda attached to them. As a result of such pattern, the Kenyan media experience narrow content and lack of alternative viewpoint of news and information disseminated to the public. Secondly, there is lack of balance since the main aim of the media is to advance political agenda as opposed to being the fourth estate—that watchdogs the government on behalf of the society. The findings also indicate that there are similarities in media ownership in Kenya and those around the world. When the political class owns the media, its normative roles are compromised, the editorial independence is skewed, and the media loses its impact as a cultural institution. The recommendation is that only community media can undo the pattern that is being established by politically owned media industry. Key Terms: Media ownership patterns, global south, news media industry ---------------------------------------------------------------------***--------------------------------------------------------------------- How to cite this article in APA (6th Edition) Otieno, M, O & Ndonye, M.M. (2020). Problematising News Media Ownership Patterns in Kenya: Who controls Media Industry in the Global South? Editon Cons. J. Media Commun. Stud., 2(1), 75-83. ---------------------------------------------------------------------***--------------------------------------------------------------------- 75 © 2020, Editon Consortium Publishing | This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License. | Website: www.editoncpublishing.org Editon Consortium Journal of Media & Communication Studies (ECJMCS) ISSN: 2663-9300 Volume: 02 Issue: 01 | June-2020 Received: 20.05.2020; Accepted 25.05.2020; Published: 30.06.2020 at www.editoncpublishing.org Otieno, M.O. et al., Editon Cons. J. Media Commun. Stud., Double –Blind Peer Reviewed Journal Introduction from that of Canada. According to Blidook (2009), there is a common trend of ownership of media organisations in Media remains the most influential cultural industry in the st the developed world. Most of these organisations practice 21 century. As a result, owning news media or any other what is known as cross-ownership where one organisation form of mass media is a highly lucrative business. owns more than one type of media outlet. Canwest Global Historically, ownership of media in Kenya has been shifting Communications Corporation; a major media from the Christian organisation that launched it to the conglomerate, for example, owns most media outlets in political class and corporate persons. Notably, print media Canada. The organisation owned the Global television was the very first form of media in Kenya. As early as 1895, network and several other newspapers in Canada. Blidook the Christian missionary society launched the Taveta describes CanWest’s various media outlets as: chronicles. A few years down the line, the Church of CanWest currently owns the largest component of Scotland and finally the Catholic Church started publishing newspapers in Canada with 13 dailies, 126 newspapers. According to Nyanjom (2012), this was the community papers, as well as internet assets, and genesis of media presence in Kenya. its television network. It is also part owner of a television network in Australia and Alliance Atlantis In 1901, the East African Standard was launched but then Communications in the U.S. (, 2009, p. 57). died four years down the line. Shortly after, it was taken over by colonial interests who then used it as the means to In Nigeria, different levels of government, which comprise perpetuate western interests and ideologies. Years later, of the state and the federal governments, serving as well the Asian communities in Kenya started gaining interest in as retired high-level private and public officials, politicians media. Their publication was for their consumption. and powerful businessperson own most of the media Towards 1950, there were several papers that were organisation in Nigeria. This makes the West African published by both individual and corporate persons. This country media ownership similar to that of Kenya. became restricted at some point in the mid-1950s. The According to Okwuchukwu’s (2014) analysis, these groups nation media group was launched by the Aga Khan to of people (the ruling elite) are the core “newsmakers” counter the standard that was viewed as Anti-African. At whose views and opinions populate most of the views, Independence, foreigners owned mainstream media in news, opinions, and information disseminated in the media Kenya (Nyanjom, 2012). In the 1970s and 80s, was the in Nigeria. period most mainstream media emerged. Both the Weekly Review and daily Nairobi Times came in to. A lot changed The owners set the agenda and highlight the issues they when former president Moi rose to power. Interference of want the public to concentrate on for a given duration of media was at the pick. Today, owning a media outlet is not time. This ownership pattern, as well as the numerous a big deal. Provided one has the financial and political media control policies in Nigeria, has to some extent power then they can own the media. Political power is hindered the media from independently setting the societal significant because the media licensing especially radio has agenda. Basic local news mostly originates from these been regulated by the government. ruling class or as they are often called, “the newsmakers”. This class of individuals includes politicians, business Media Ownership Patterns executives, captains of industry, top civil servants and In Canada, organisations own most media outlets. In the other influential members of the ruling elite whose views United Kingdom (UK), the situation is not very different 76 © 2020, Editon Consortium Publishing | This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License. | Website: www.editoncpublishing.org Editon Consortium Journal of Media & Communication Studies (ECJMCS) ISSN: 2663-9300 Volume: 02 Issue: 01 | June-2020 Received: 20.05.2020; Accepted 25.05.2020; Published: 30.06.2020 at www.editoncpublishing.org Otieno, M.O. et al., Editon Cons. J. Media Commun. Stud., Double –Blind Peer Reviewed Journal and opinions dominate daily news and public information in identified and categorised. The findings were then Nigeria. This class of individuals controls the media in discussed and the conclusion drawn. Nigeria (Okwuchukwu, 2014). LITERATURE REVIEW According to Littlejohn and Foss (2009), those who own Media Industry in Kenya the media to some extent have the power to set the media The media industry in Kenya has witnessed tremendous agenda. Media owners can dictate and influence the growth in the past few years brought about by editorial policies, which then informs the gathering, transformative growth of newspapers, magazines, radio packaging, and dissemination of information to the public. stations as well as television stations (Mulupi, 2012). There This means that they decide what goes to the public and are many FM radio stations in Kenya both local and what remains buried. Littlejohn and Foss (2009) went on to regional. In terms of the market share, Kiswahili stations highlight that media legitimisation of events and important remain at the top with the market share of 43 percent issues affect the audiences’ perception of reality. The news followed by English radio stations at 33 percent then the media priorities latter became the priorities that the vernacular stations are at 24 percent. audience give much attention. This is why politicians and powerful businesspersons in Kenya have opted to venture In the television industry, Citizen TV remains the most into the media business and this research paper aimed at commonly watched station followed by KTN home, and investigating the implications that this ownership pattern then KTN News and NTV come in the fourth position has on news media. (Geopoll, 2019, 2020). Other players include