As 2025 ends, Kenya’s media landscape stands at a defining moment. Shrinking newsrooms, rapid digital disruption, and the rise of community-led storytelling continue to reshape the industry. While traditional newsrooms struggle to stay afloat, community radio stations across the country remain strong, deeply rooted, and closely connected to local audiences.
1. Economic Pressures and Downsizing in Kenya’s Newsrooms
Kenya’s media industry has faced major economic pressures this year, leading to significant downsizing across mainstream newsrooms. Commercial media houses have struggled with declining advertising revenue, competition from fast-growing digital platforms, and rising operational costs. Nation Media Group (NMG) restructured its operations and reduced staff as part of a digital-first strategy, while Standard Group PLC scaled down print production and laid off employees after suffering heavy financial losses. Royal Media Services (RMS) reviewed contracts and implemented budget cuts across its radio and TV networks. These cutbacks reflect a deeper crisis affecting investigative journalism, regional bureaus, and editorial independence as resources continue to shrink.
2. Political Climate and the State of Press Freedom
Kenya’s political environment still shapes how journalism is practiced. Reporters face both subtle and direct pressure when covering corruption, governance, and public accountability. Debates over misinformation, digital regulation, and the safety of journalists highlight the ongoing struggle to protect press freedom as the year comes to a close.
3. Rise of Citizen Journalism and Digital Media
Digital disruption has accelerated the growth of citizen journalism. Young audiences now rely on TikTok, X, WhatsApp, and Facebook for breaking news. This shift democratizes storytelling but also increases misinformation, disinformation, propaganda, and unverified content. Many digital creators are trying to fill gaps left by strained mainstream media, but monetization remains a major challenge. Still, this trend shows a media ecosystem where digital voices are reshaping Kenya’s national narrative.
4. Community Radio: Kenya’s Local Storytelling Power
Amid these disruptions, community radio stations have emerged as some of Kenya’s strongest local storytelling platforms. Stations such as Koch FM, Ruben FM, Mtaani Radio, Dada Radio, Serian FM, and Turkwel FM continue to thrive despite challenges facing the wider industry. These stations deliver hyper-local news, support peace journalism, address youth and gender issues, promote community cohesion, and provide reliable information in informal settlements and rural communities. Their biggest strength lies in their closeness to the people—understanding local issues deeply and involving the community in content creation, production, and dissemination. Open feedback channels and support from local NGOs and community-based organizations have further strengthened their impact. In areas where mainstream media cannot reach, community-led journalism remains the backbone of trusted information.
5. Technology, AI, and the New Frontier of Media Innovation
Kenyan newsrooms are slowly adopting AI for transcription, translation, analytics, and fact-checking. Although adoption is still in its early stages, AI holds enormous potential to transform how Kenyan media operates. For community radio, AI offers future opportunities for automated programming, affordable data collection, and local-language content. However, financial and technical barriers still limit adoption.
6. What 2025 Reveals About the Future of Media in Kenya
Overall, 2025 has revealed a media sector in transition. Major media houses continue cutting staff, yet storytelling—especially at the local level—has never been more innovative. Digital creators continue to rise, community radios are proving resilient, and the call for transparency and accountability in journalism is growing louder. The sector is not collapsing; rather, it is being reborn.
Parting Shot: The Road Ahead
As Kenya’s media landscape evolves, both mainstream and community media remain essential in shaping an informed society. Commercial newsrooms, despite financial struggles, continue providing national coverage and investigative reporting. Community radio, meanwhile, excels in hyper-local storytelling and grassroots engagement.
The future will require stronger collaboration across all media sectors—through digital innovation, strategic partnerships, training, and sustainable revenue models. By embracing audience-centered content and upholding strong journalistic standards, all media players can position themselves for long-term impact.
Ultimately, Kenya’s media future will be built on a balanced ecosystem where national broadcasters, digital creators, and community radio stations work together to deliver accurate, inclusive, and transformational storytelling.
Doreen Mwasi is the founder of Media Bridge By D Mwasi. She is also an accomplished broadcast journalist with over a decade of experience in the media industry, specializing in radio programming, management, and media training. Known for her engaging radio voice and exceptional communication skills, Doreen has effectively led teams in diverse multimedia environments.
