A Precipitous Decline

NAIROBI, KENYA – Kenya's vibrant media landscape is facing an existential crisis, crippled by a confluence of economic hardship, escalating political intimidation, and physical attacks against journalists. This deterioration has led to a significant drop in the country's global press freedom standing, raising alarms among media watchdogs and civil society about the future of democratic discourse in the nation. According to the World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), Kenya's ranking has plummeted from 69th in 2022 to 117th in 2025, a fall of 48 places in just three years. The 2025 SDG Index also noted a sharp decline in Kenya's Press Freedom score, from 53.2 in 2024 to 49.4 in 2025, continuing a downward trend observed for over a decade.

Economic Strangulation

At the heart of the media's struggle is a severe and worsening financial crisis. Media houses, including major players like the Nation Media Group and Standard Group, are grappling with dwindling revenues, forcing them into repeated downsizing, salary cuts, and significant delays in paying journalists. This financial instability is exacerbated by the government's strategic use of its advertising budget. The state, a primary source of advertising revenue, has been accused of withholding payments and directing advertising to state-run outlets or those with favorable coverage, effectively starving independent media of crucial funds. This economic pressure compromises editorial independence, leading to a rise in self-censorship as news outlets pull back from critical reporting to survive. The COVID-19 pandemic further compounded these economic woes, accelerating the decline in advertising revenue and forcing media houses to adopt austerity measures that have yet to be reversed.

A Hostile Political Climate

The economic squeeze is unfolding within an increasingly hostile political environment. Since the August 2022 general election, journalists and media houses have faced a surge in threats, harassment, and intimidation from state actors. High-ranking government officials have openly threatened media outlets perceived as critical, and several senior journalists and news managers have been dismissed under what observers describe as political pressure. The Media Council of Kenya (MCK) documented 130 press violations between November 2023 and November 2024, ranging from physical assaults and intimidation to digital threats. The 2024 youth-led protests against a controversial finance bill marked a new low, with the government imposing live broadcast bans and security forces assaulting and detaining reporters covering the demonstrations. On July 16, 2024, Kameme TV reporter Catherine Wanjeri Kariuki was shot in the leg by police while covering protests in Nakuru, an incident that captured the dangerous conditions journalists now face.

The Impact on Kenyan Society

This multi-pronged assault on the media has profound implications for the Kenyan public. A weakened, intimidated, and financially unstable press is less capable of performing its watchdog role of holding power to account, investigating corruption, and providing citizens with reliable, fact-checked information. The result is a shrinking space for public debate and an information ecosystem increasingly polluted by misinformation and disinformation. As independent journalism is crippled, the public's ability to make informed decisions is compromised, undermining the very foundations of Kenya's democracy. The challenges have forced many experienced journalists out of the profession, further degrading the quality of news coverage available to citizens. Civil society organizations and media freedom advocates, including the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), have repeatedly called for authorities to investigate attacks on journalists and to cease the intimidation of the press. However, a persistent culture of impunity for crimes against journalists means that these calls often go unheeded, leaving reporters vulnerable and the public increasingly in the dark.