Kenya
Kenya has one of the most open and lively media scenes in the East African region. But press freedom is coming under growing pressure. Political control over media ownership, money troubles at news outlets, and rising safety risks for journalists, and especially women journalists, are making it harder to report freely. The country ranks 106 out of 180 on the RSF Press Freedom Index.
A media under political and financial pressure
On paper, Kenya's 2010 Constitution is one of the strongest in Africa regarding press freedom. It created the Media Council of Kenya to protect journalists. But in practice, many news outlets are owned by politicians or people close to the government, who can influence who runs them and what they publish. Since 2022, several major news outlets have lost editors under political pressure, pushing many journalists to avoid sensitive stories out of fear.
Money problems make things worse. The government has moved much of its advertising to online platforms while leaving old debts to newspapers and TV stations unpaid. Some advertisers also pull funding to punish outlets for critical coverage. In 2024 alone, several TV and radio stations shut down and hundreds of media jobs were lost, leaving fewer resources for the kind of in-depth reporting that holds power to account.
Young Kenyans and the importance of content creators
Kenya has a huge, connected, and outspoken younger generation, who get most of their news and entertainment online rather than from TV or newspapers. Social media has become a powerful tool for them: in 2024, online organising helped drive nationwide protests against a proposed tax law. But many popular content creators have no training in journalism including fact-checking or investigation techniques. This opens the door to misinformation, harassment, and in some cases calls for violence. Supporting solid, fact-based journalism alongside this new generation of online voices is key to supporting public debate.
Gender based violence in media landscape
Journalists in Kenya face real danger, particularly during elections and protests. Arrests, police violence, physical attacks, threats, and confiscated equipment are common, and those responsible are rarely held accountable. Women journalists face extra risks. Many experience harassment both in the newsroom and online, and as most are unaware of any policies meant to protect them, incidents often go unreported. Some women have left social media altogether just to feel safe, paying a heavy price that pushes their voices out of public conversation.
Our work in Kenya
Free Press Unlimited supports independent journalism, investigative reporting, and youth leadership in Kenya. We believe young journalists and content creators are essential to a more open and democratic Kenya, and we work to build a network of confident, skilled leaders who can drive real change in their communities.
Our work focuses on two goals: helping young Kenyan journalists, especially those in local, regional, and online media, to report freely and expose issues like corruption and human rights abuses; and building critical thinking and leadership skills among young journalists, content creators, and civil society members, through open discussions on social, economic, and political issues, including how to fight misinformation. This work reaches both rural and urban communities across Kenya.
