Caroline Mutoko of Radio Africa. She is one of the media personalities who has landed an appointment into a state parastatal. This has led to varied reactions, with some commentators asking that the decide to be on one side, either the media or government., for them to be seen to be neutral.
The government over the weekend announced a number of new appointments into boards of parastatals. The move w as long awaited coming from the restructuring of the parastatals. Among those who found themselves on the list of those appointed to some of the parastatals are prominent personalities in the Kenyan media landscape. These are Julie Gichuru of Citizen TV who was appointed a board member of Brand Kenya, Judy Kosgey (Royal Media) into Tourism Development Board, and Farida Karoney (Royal Media) and Caroline Mutoko (Radio Africa) into the board of Kenya Institute of Mass Communication. Whereas the appointment are good for the media industry because for many years players in the media industry have been complaining of marginalization when it comes to state appointments or recognition, it raises questions about impartiality and balance for the media houses where these individuals work. The Second Schedule of the Media Council Act 2013 which guides the practice of media in the country, in chapter two, Independence, says that “journalists shall defend the independence of all journalists from those seeking influence or control over news content”. Under the same chapter, the guide says that journalists shall “resist any self-interest or peer pressure that might undermine journalistic duty and service to the public”. So far, none of these individuals have indicated whether they will take their appointments of not. As it is, boards are not involved in the day to day operations of the parastatals. They are only charged with formulating and driving policy. Therefore, many of them may meet for only thrice or twice a year. Be that as it may, the question that comes to the mind of many is how these personalities will deal with any news item, especially that which has adverse publicity on the parastatals they are connected with. One of the ethics of journalism that is taught is media schools is that one needs to declare their interest in such a situation, or one needs to pull out in case they find themselves in a place where they have to handle an assignment where they have a direct interest. Just by virtue of the fact that these personalities are in boards of parastatals means that they will have conflicted interests in issues to do with the parastatals. In that case, how will their media houses handle stories where the parastatals are being portrayed in bad light? The history of parastatals, like many government institutions is always rife with issues of corruption and mismanagement. Let us assume that these said individuals in themselves are not involved in corruption or mismanagement in these parastatals, can they really allow the covering of such without any interference. One fact that is clear is that the said individuals, with only the exception of one, are senior and experienced personalities in their various media houses. Even if they were to remove themselves from the process of making editorial decisions in cases where they have a conflict of interest because of their membership in the parastatals, they still would wield a lot of influence over their peers in the media houses. This leads one to ask whether they should totally delink themselves from the media, if they opt to take the board appointments. It feels good when you know that your country recognizes you for what you have done in the past. I am sure this is how these individuals, and many others would look at the issue. After all, everyone is looking for recognition and reward in life. But the media, being the Fourth Estate, is meant to keep watch over other arms of the government. It is the only sector that ordinary citizens rely upon to speak for it when those in power are deaf. Many opinion polls in Kenya have shown that the media is one of the most trusted sectors of the Kenyan society, more than the Judiciary, Parliament and the Executive. It therefore goes without saying if this institution is comprised by appointments into state corporations, the public will be the poorer. As much as the appointment of these media personalities is recognition of the role of media in society, it is also a poisoned chalice and the appointees need to weigh very carefully their choices in this matter. Accepting the appointments is good for their career prospects and personal ego. Refusing may work against them in the future, especially if the Jubilee government continues to be in power for the next 20 years as they have predicted! They are damned if they do and damned if they don’t.
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