A new research shows how politicians either directly or indirectly have a s******ehold in the country’s media industry, a move that inf*uences editorial operations.

Currently, there are 167 radios, 60 TV stations and nearly 100 publications, both online and offline, according to Media Council of Kenya Programmes Officer Victor Bwire. However, the main newspapers, TV and radio stations are in the hands of politicians or their close a*sociates, according to a report by Odipo Dev.

According to its research, close to 37% of all newspaper, TV and radio ent*ties in Kenya have ownership that they identifi*d to be exposed to proven political inf*uence either directly or indirectly.

President Uhuru Kenyatta’s family has a stake in Mediamax Network Ltd, which owns K24 and Kameme TV, the free-sheet People Daily and a host of radio stations, including Milele FM and Kameme FM. Deputy President Wi*liam Ruto is now believed to be the majority shareholder in the media house.

Ruto is also a*sociated with Joshua Chepkwony, the owner of Ka*s Media Group, which operates Ka*s FM.

Former President Moi’s family has a substantial stake in Standard Group, which owns KTN TV and The Standard newspaper, among others. Another key shareholder is Moi’s personal a*sistant Joshua Kulei, who is also politically inf*uential in the Rift Valley.

The Nation Media Group, whose majority shareholder is His Highness the Aga Khan, has previously been accused of playing key roles in inf*uencing political happenings in the country.

Business tyc**n SK Macharia owns the Royal Media Services, which operates Citizen TV, Inooro TV, and 14 radio stations. He has previously used his media might to inf*uence election outcomes, including in 2002 when he openly campaigned for Mwai Kibaki and 2013 when he supported Raila Odinga.

Radio Africa Group is partly owned by Kenya National of Commerce and Industry chairman Kiprono Kittony. The station owns the Star newspaper, K**s TV and a host of FM radio stations, among them Cla*sic 105 and K**s 100. His mother, former Nominated MP Zipporah Kittony is a relative of Moi. Former Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero also has a shareholding in the company.

Raila’s close ally, former Gem MP Jakoyo Midiwo has been a*sociated with Neural Digital Broadcaster Limited, which operates Nam Lolwe FM, says the report t*tled Kenya’s Circle of Media Inf*uence.

Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu operates Mbaitu FM and Syokimau FM whileGarissa Sen**or Yusuf Haji owns Frontier Radio and Radio Salaam, according to Odipo Dev.

Meru County Women Representative Kawira Mwangaza owns Baite TV while her Kirinyaga counterpart Purity Ngirici, recently who owns Mt. Kenya TV and Iganjo FM.

Mvita MP Abdulswamad Na*sir own Radio Rahma. Business Today has also learnt that his Gatundu South counterpart Moses Kuria is the man behind business channel, Fanaka TV.

Ghetto Radio is owned by the Ghetto Radio Foundation, and their Chairperson is Maria Mbeneka, First Lady of Laikipia County, Julius Owino (Maji Maji) who we mentioned earlier is their Managing Director.

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Another inf*uential media owner is Senior Counsel Ahmedna*sir Abdullahi, who is the chairman of Al-Nur Media Africa, which owns RTN-Somali TV, Nairobi Law Monthly Magazine and Nairobi Business Monthly.

Odipo Dev notes that ma*s media inf*uences how facts are viewed and debated in a society, contributing to crafting its public opinion, noting that independence and pluralism of media, opinions and views – including criticism of people in power – is a fundamental hallmark of a healthy democratic system.

“In today’s rabid information ecosystem, the public is forced to be extra prudent with the information they consume; not only for the facts therein but for the agenda the message may carry. To be truly complete, this due diligence process must extend to unmasking the ownership of media houses. By revealing who lies behind the editorial curtain and understanding their interests, rep**ation and affiliations, we get to judge the output of a media ent*ty even more accurately. How much does a media owner interfere with editorial decisions? Are there any obvious biases favoring or maligning certain individuals or ent*ties? Are journalists inhibited from covering certain stories?” it adds.