TI-Kenya Executive Director Sheila Masinde Speaking during The 3rd Annual Media–Civil Society Conference, happening this week in Nairobi. Photo by Andrew Mbuva. 
By Andrew Mbuva
The 3rd Annual Media–Civil Society Conference, happening this week in Nairobi opened with a strong call for renewed vigilance in safeguarding Kenya’s democratic space amid growing threats to press freedom and civic liberties.
The forum brings together journalists, editors, civil society leaders, media regulators, tech innovators, mental health advocates, legislators from both county and national assemblies, as well as representatives from constitutional commissions and independent offices.
Participants say the two-day gathering offers a timely opportunity to strengthen cross-sector collaboration at a moment many describe as particularly turbulent for democracy.
Transparency International Kenya (TI-Kenya), one of the key partners supporting the event, noted that the conference provides an important platform to reflect on the state of governance and anti-corruption reporting across counties, and to design joint strategies that bolster civic space and public accountability.
TI-Kenya Executive Director Sheila Masinde, in her remarks, offered a candid assessment of the challenges facing Kenya’s media landscape. She observed that the narrative of Kenya’s democratic space “has not been without bruises,” pointing to the physical attacks, censorship, intimidation, and broadcast blackouts that journalists continue to endure.
Masinde added that the past year alone has seen media houses threatened with license suspensions for allegedly “unbalanced” reporting, while internet slowdowns and online surveillance further constrained coverage and limited the public’s access to critical information.
Among the prominent attendees at the event are Hon. Shakeel Shabbir, Chairperson of APNACC and a member of the National Assembly ICT Committee; Civic Freedoms Forum Chairperson Davis Malombe; a representative of UNESCO and the European Union; and Kenya Correspondents Association Programs Director Oloo Janak.
Over the course of today and tomorrow, the conference will reflect on the governance and anti-corruption reporting landscape at the county level, explore strategies for implementing a more synergized media approach in counties, and identify new opportunities for partnership, collaboration, and collective capacity-building among all stakeholders.
Delivering the keynote address on behalf of EU Ambassador to Kenya H.E. Henriette Geiger, Dr. Barios of the European Union delegation reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to supporting free, independent, and resilient media as a cornerstone of democratic societies.
TI-Kenya is supporting this year’s conference under the TUNU (Tupigane Na Ufisadi) project, implemented in partnership with Konrad Adenauer Stiftung Kenya and Tisa Kenya, with support from the European Union in Kenya.
Masinde concluded her remarks with a call for unity and solidarity, stressing that in moments such as these, the media and civil society must continue standing together as steadfast guardians of Kenya’s democratic space.
