Royal Media Services’ Jamila Mohamed and Standard Group’s Lilian Odera have, alongside other eminent media sector professionals, been included in Media Council of Kenya’s (MCK) review committee of media associations and groups.
Other members of the committee, which will be chaired by Mutegi Njau (independent journalist), include Dr Sam Kamau (Aga Khan University), Njeri Rugene (independent journalist), Rose Lukalo (independent Journalist) and Judy Kaberia (Independent Journalist).
The MCK formed the committee to respond to alarming reports and complaints about the conducts and operations of media associations and support groups across the country. The reports included leadership wrangles, unethical practices and lack of accountability for use of donor and public resources.
The committee was formed in pursuant of Articles 4 and 6 a, b, c, d and k with the sole purpose of reviewing the operations of media associations and support groups across the country.
The team’s terms of references are to assist the MCK to ensure coordination of the activities and operations of media associations and groups as well as better targeting of media interventions and resources from local and international funding agencies.
Apart from that, the committee will also be tasked in helping the council avoid and/or minimize duplication of funding proposals, reports and other information.
The MCK has also stipulated the right process of registering these associations and groups. First, the associations and/or groups are required to present a letter of No Objection from the MCK as part of their application. The purpose of the letter is to make MCK the guarantor of sorts to ensure that these entities operate within the law and serve the media sector effectively.
The council has also found it necessary to develop structures and processes that will enable organized and collaborative interventions within the sector. Media Associations and groupings play a critical role in this, and for this purpose need to be properly constituted and accountable to guard against conflicts of interest and potential abuse.
