The Government has inaugurated the Broadcasting Content Advisory Council constituted in April this year to promote professionalism, integrity and ethics in the broadcasting sector.

The Council is a creature of the law and a product of negotiations between the media industry and the Government on the ideal framework for regulating broadcasting content.

Presiding over the inauguration today, Information and Communications Minister Hon. Samuel Poghisio urged the Council to move with speed to rid the airwaves of inappropriate programming.

The Minister said his ministry was under public pressure to address inappropriate programming by some FM stations, and called on the Council members to assist the Commission in enforcing high ethical standards in the sector. 

He urged the media to engage the Government on the issues that they were uncomfortable with in the prevailing legal framework, instead of demonizing the law.
“Regulations are enacted to be implemented not to be shelved. In any case, there are clear mechanisms for amending the law and regulations,” said Hon. Poghisio.

CCK Director-General Charles Njoroge assured the Council of CCK’s support.  He said the Commission had already developed the requisite regulatory tools, including the licensing framework, programme code and complaint handling procedure in readiness to implementing the new legal regime for the broadcasting sub-sector.  

Speaking on behalf of the Media Owners Association, Nation Media Group CEO Linus Gitahi said the Council members were all persons of distinction and congratulated them on their appointment. 

Mr. Gitahi said it was now time for Kenya to reflect African values in its broadcasting content instead of using inappropriate foreign content.  Mr. Gitahi pledged the industry’s support to the Council.

Media Council of Kenya CEO Esther Kamweru welcomed the appointment of the Broadcasting Content Advisory Council, saying regulation of the broadcast media was standard practice the world over. She said her organization would find a way of working together with the Council to improve broadcasting standards in the country.

The members of the Advisory Council are Mitch Odera, Kathleen Openda-Mvati, Pastor Samuel Lumwe, Frank Ojiambo, Alex Gakuru, and Nyandooro Kambi Yambesh. Their appointment is for a period of three years with effect from April 25 this year.