Ndindi Nyoro has sparked controversy after accusing the Kenyan government of deliberately delaying payments for government advertisements to financially strain media houses, allegedly paving the way for their acquisition.
Speaking at a prize-giving ceremony at Weithaga Boys Senior School, the vocal legislator claimed the strategy is aimed at controlling the narrative and converting independent media into state-aligned platforms.
“The government is starving media houses so that they can buy them,” Nyoro said. “After imminent collapse, they then offer buyout bids to acquire our media houses.”
The MP alleged that withholding pending government bills undermines press freedom, leaving outlets on the brink of financial ruin.
According to Nyoro, this provides an opportunity for the administration or powerful proxies to acquire them cheaply through stakes, shares, or disguised deals.
Nyoro further claimed that two out of three major newspapers have already been “bought through stakes and shares” and now function as “tabloids of this administration.”
Similarly, he alleged that two out of five major TV stations have become “voices of state propaganda,” while a prominent politician is reportedly acquiring another TV station through a foreign investor facade.
“Don’t bother hiding behind the nationality of another country. Just buy what you are buying with your name,” he added, referencing recent speculation around acquisitions at the Nation Media Group.
The lawmaker urged the government to allow media houses to operate freely within the law, warning that financial pressure tactics compromise press freedom and democracy.
Nyoro’s comments come amid ongoing debates over media ownership, transparency in government advertisement payments, and the financial sustainability of Kenyan media outlets.
Tags
Politics