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From Watchdogs to Hostages of Peace: The Kenyan Press and the 2013 General Election

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Newsmaking Cultures in Africa

Abstract

This chapter examines Kenya’s press coverage of the 2013 general election through a content analysis and interviews with journalists and media executives. It argues that peace journalism was a form of gatekeeping that undermined the ability of the media to perform their normative role of ensuring executive probity and accountability. It suggests that this was a deliberate ploy by media owners and the political elite to set the bounds of debate and to protect their economic interests by foreclosing any attempts to engage critically and interrogate both contentious and controversial issues that may have engendered conflict and violence.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    News values are factors that influence the media’s news selection criteria. Galtung and Ruge (1965) identify twelve such values.

  2. 2.

    The Nation has three flagship titles: Daily Nation, Saturday Nation and Sunday Nation. According to an internal annual circulation report, the papers sold an average of 147,000, 152,000 and 166,000 respectively in 2015. The Standard also has three flagship titles, which, according to the 2015 annual circulation report, had average sales of 56,000, 47,000 and 51,000. Both papers have lost up to 30% sales since 2013. The third newspaper, The Star, sells around 12,000 copies daily.

  3. 3.

    A reporter presenting both sides of the story without appearing to support either of the sides.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Kings College London and University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK

    Denis Galava

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  1. Denis Galava
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Writing and Journalism, Falmouth University, Penryn, United Kingdom

    Hayes Mawindi Mabweazara

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Galava, D. (2018). From Watchdogs to Hostages of Peace: The Kenyan Press and the 2013 General Election. In: Mabweazara, H. (eds) Newsmaking Cultures in Africa. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-54109-3_15

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