PS nominee for the State Department for Broadcasting and Telecommunication Stephen Isaboke appearing for an interview before the National Assembly Committee on Communication, Information and Innovation on April 4, 4,2025. PHOTO/ENOS TECHE
Speaking when he appeared before the National Assembly’s Information, Communication, and Technology Committee, the nominee also pledged to look at the issue of salaries delays especially at the national broadcaster—KBC.
Isaboke—a former MultiChoice Group official—told the committee chaired by Dagoretti North MP John Kiarie that media freedom will be guaranteed if he is considered for the position.
“Media freedom is one of the rights protected in the constitution, my approach will be to always refer to the law. Where there will be issues, I will choose to engage the stakeholders,” he said.
He also assured MPs that he will prioritise payment of pending bills the government owes media houses to ensure private media stations meet their contractual obligations to their employees.
“Pending bills are something that we will lobby within the government to ensure we release these pending bills,” Isaboke said.
His remarks come amid growing concerns among the stakeholders in the media industry on the attack on media freedom by the state apparatus. The nominee also promised to turn around the national broadcaster, KBC, and address existing salary challenges that have seen the workers take to the streets.
“In my approach, the first thing is getting back to the basics of where the rain started beating us,” Isaboke said.
“I will work with a turnaround plan. KBC is like a rich old man owning real estate but walking in tatters. We have to look at resources in KBC and see how to use them better.”
He told the Kiare-led committee that he will not hesitate to use the idle KBC resources, including land, to generate enough money to finance the broadcaster’s operations and modernize the equipment at the state-owned media house.
The nominee was responding to a question from Homa Bay Woman Representative Joyce Osogo, who had challenged the frequent salary strikes at KBC.
“There are several challenges of salary or remuneration amongst journalists. We are having journalists on the streets asking for their salary. What are you going to do about this?” Osogo posed, adding that a non-motivated journalist cannot effectively communicate government policies to the masses.
The committee will be proceeding for a retreat to write a report that will be presented to the house next week for consideration.
