The year 2008 started with a bang and ended with yet another in the year 2008. Following the 2007 post election violence, the government slapped a ban on live broadcasts on the eve of 2008 saying this was necessary to preserve national security at the time.
This came as a surprise to the media fraternity. Media organizations petitioned the government to lift the ban. The government also came under heavy criticism from the civil society and Non-Governmental Organizations for reversing the gains recorded over the years brought about by the widening of democratic space and the associated freedom of speech. Despite the protests the government stood its ground. It accused the media for fuelling the violence by spreading hate speech messages. Central to these accusations were the vernacular FM stations and community radio stations which were said to preach tribal hatred.
The ban was later lifted. At the close of the year, Hon Mwai Kibaki, the President of Kenya, signed into law the Kenya Communications Bill. The bill covers ICT, media and postal services. The media reacted angrily to sections of that they felt bordered on repression of the media. Talks to sort out the issue were initiated. By the end of the year, the Act was in force and the talks were still going on. This publication is a brief account of Kenya media in 2008 and is in fulfillment of Article 4(l) of the Media Act 2007 which states: “[the Media council will] conduct an annual review of the performance and the general opinion of the media.”

10. Paying for News and Articles When money is paid for information, serious questions can be raised about the credibility of that information and the motives of the buyer and the seller. Therefore, in principle, journalists should not receive any money as an incentive to publish any information. 9. Obscenity, Taste and Tone in Reporting (a) In general, journalists should avoid publishing obscene, vulgar or offensive material unless such material contains a news value which is necessary in the public interest. 8. Misrepresentation Journalists should generally identify themselves and not obtain or seek to obtain information or pictures through misrepresentation or subterfuge. 6. Unnamed Sources Unnamed sources should not be used unless the pursuit of the truth will best be served by not naming the source who should be known by the editor and reporter. 5. Opportunity to Reply A fair opportunity to reply to inaccuracies should be given to individuals or organizations when reasonably called for. 4. Accountability Journalists and all media practitioners should recognize that they are accountable for their actions to the public, the profession and themselves. 3. Integrity Journalists should present news with integrity and decency, avoiding real or perceived conflicts of interest, and respect the dignity and intelligence of the audience as well as the subjects of news. 2. Independence Journalists should defend the independence of all journalists from those seeking influence or control over news content. 1. Accuracy and Fairness (a) The fundamental objective of a journalist is to write a fair, accurate and an unbiased story on matters of public interest. All sides of the story shall be reported, wherever possible.