State to review advertising model, settle pending bills to rescue ailing media sector- Kabogo
He said the existing model has contributed to delays and inefficiencies that have left many news organisations struggling to stay afloat.
The government has announced plans to overhaul its public advertising system and clear verified arrears owed to media houses, in what ICT Cabinet Secretary William Kabogo said is part of a broader effort to stabilise the financially strained media industry.
Speaking on Friday at the official opening of the 8th Annual Kenya Editors’ Guild (KEG) Convention in Kilifi County, Kabogo said the State is reviewing long-standing restrictions that channel most government advertisements to the public broadcaster KBC and the State-run MyGov pullout.
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He said the existing model has contributed to delays and inefficiencies that have left many news organisations struggling to stay afloat.
"To address these pressures, the Government is reviewing the model for public advertising to ensure fairness, efficiency, and timely settlement of obligations," he said. "Historical pending bills owed to media houses are undergoing verification at the National Treasury, and we aim to resolve them as part of restoring the sector's financial stability," he added.
His remarks followed an address by KEG President Zubeidah Kananu, who warned that the industry was facing "economic suffocation" due to delayed payments, declining revenues, and the dominance of global digital platforms.
"The greatest threat to media freedom today is economic suffocation, delayed government advertising payments, GAA centralisation, Big Tech dominance, and declining revenue have weakened newsrooms," said Kananu.
She called on the State to liberalise government advertising by allowing ministries and agencies to directly procure space from accredited media houses to prevent political interference and reduce delays.
Kananu also urged reforms to ensure journalist safety and newsroom sustainability, noting the heightened risks faced during recent protests and the growing instability in the sector.
More than 20 journalists were injured during the 2024 – 2025 Gen Z protests. Kananu called for a joint rapid-response system involving the Interior Ministry, Media Council of Kenya, IPOA, ODPP, and the Kenya Media Sector Working Group.
To help the struggling media, KEG proposed several measures, key among them speeding up government advertising payments and reducing political influence.
Kananu also stressed the need for media houses to pay salaries on time and support reporters’ mental health.
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