By Anderson Ojwang
Kenyans could be suffering from media news consumption apathy due to excessive negative news bulletins.
Internal Security permanent Secretary Dr Raymond Omolo and Anglican Bishop of Bondo Prof David Kodia have decried excessive negative reports by Kenya’s media houses.
They said negative reports in most of Kenya media houses was making Kenyans to avoid watching news in tv stations and reading newspapers.
Omolo challenged the media to practice fair, accountable and professional journalism in their reporting and to avoid creating readers and listeners apathy.
Omolo said the media plays an important role in shaping the public perception and is crucial in disseminating information and creating awareness.
The PS said negative reporting only hurts the image of the country and undermines the government agenda for the nation.
“This year, President Willaim Ruto and his Uganda counterpart President Yoweri Museveni were in attendance for the Piny Luo festival; Important socio-economic issues were discussed. That function did not even get a front page in our daily newspapers.
It is the duty of the media to report but they should also give credit to the government in areas where we have succeeded. Too much negative energy by the media is not good for the nation,” he said.
Prof Kodia the currently there was too much negative news reporting in the country that was making most people not to watch news.
“My wife no longer watches prime news, it’s full of negativity and fails to inspire and give hope. She is among the hundreds of thousands of Kenyans who are opting from watching and reading news,” he said.
Omolo said the government has embarked on rolling out the last mile for electricity and Kenyans will be connected to the national grid.
“The government has invested heavily on education and has employed 76,000 teachers. We have invested in various infrastructural resources and currently, the fruits of the investment can be seen,” he said.
He challenged the residents and leaders from Nyanza to support last year’s Kenya Certificates of Secondary Examination (KCSE) who qualified to join universities and technical training institutions to join and pursue their studies
“I kindly ask our people and leaders to support our children who may have challenges in pursuing their academics in the universities and technical training institutions to be supported,” he said.
The PS spoke in Uyoma in Rarieda sub county during the burial of chairperson of Kenya National Human Rights Commission (KHRC) Roseline Odede.
Omolo said Odede was instrumental in helping come up with police reforms and was a dedicated public servant.
He said the government was committed to ensure provision of security and order to all Kenyans.
