Nairobi — The Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) has called for a law regulating social media content to protect mainstream media.
This comes amid the retrenchment and restructuring going on across various media houses across the country.
Secretary General Francis Atwoli stated that such regulations would enable them remain relevant.
"Unless we tame this people on social media. It is consuming a lot that product. They have become number one in Breaking news. They even have televisions online We must look at that," he said.
Atwoli stated that when the social media started the media houses would have organized themselves to make sure that the government comes with a law to make sure that even the social media outlets are pegged to media houses.
He argued that other countries such as Japan and Dubai have regulated social media saying that Kenya can equally affect the same to protect the media houses that are currently struggling thanks to social media.
"In the absence of the law and the freedom we have, [even they abuse people and you cannot get them] unless the law is put in place to tame this people our main media houses will have a problem," he added.
Weighing in on the current situation of Standard media Group, one of the affected media houses, the COTU boss said that they had had conversation with the owner Gideon Moi disclosing that he had assured them he is working to address the situation.
He added proposed that the management of the media house should also reach out to the government and negotiate for its survival
"If the management can move faster and have one to one, they can make it," he said.
Atwoli called on other media houses to move with speed and engaged the committees in parliament tasked with issues to deal with information technology in efforts to regulate the industry.
In February, Editors and other practitioners in the media industry called on the task force reviewing laws and regulations governing the sector to prioritize the welfare of journalists and sustainability in its final report.
The 28-member sector working group, chaired by the University of Nairobi's Prof. Mwololo Waema and deputized by Dr. Hannington Gaya and Microsoft Country Manager Phylis Migwi, is tasked with reviewing all laws, policies, and regulations governing the media and ICT sector to foster creativity and innovation.
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The discussions at the Sarova Stanley Hotel in Nairobi were facilitated by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation, a German political foundation which promotes liberal values across the world.
"We believe that that free media is an essential aspect of democratic practice, and we are here to underscore this and facilitate freedom of the media is an important liberal value," said Stefan Schott, the foundation's country director who also presented to the Group their latest research policy paper on the state of Kenyan media.
Bernard Momanyi, Editorial Director at Capital FM, emphasized the importance of sustainable remuneration for journalists amid tough economic times. "Today, most media houses, including the state broadcaster, struggle to pay their journalists," he said.
About The Author
Bruhan Makong reports on security, human rights, and global affairs. He is passionate about uncovering the truth, amplifying the voices often drowned in silence, and holding those in power to account.
