Kibaki made the remarks Thursday while officially opening the Pan Africa Media Conference at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC, in Nairobi.
Noting that the increased freedom had led to unprecedented increase in the number of media outlets in the country, Kibaki cautioned that the media must at all times be responsible and uphold key pillars of journalism, particularly tolerance and objectivity.
He urged players in the media industry to be guided by public good while executing their unique roles of informing, educating and entertaining the society because they hold the communication channels as custodians of the public good.
He affirmed, “In appreciation of the crucial role of the media here in Kenya, the government has, in the last seven years, remained committed to the creation of an open society anchored on a free media.
"Consequently, the media has enjoyed greater freedom than at any other time in the history of our country. This has resulted in an unprecedented increase in the number of media outlets.
"For example, in 1999 there were 16 radio stations, mainly operated by the national broadcaster and eight television stations. Today, we have 80 radio stations on air around the country and 19 television stations.”
Kibaki noted that media had a duty to disseminate reliable information that would shape the society positively and help the public to make informed decisions.
He acknowledged, “It is to this public that you owe the need to pass on information that will help shape societies of informed and responsible individuals capable of making rational decisions.”
He told media practitioners to resist the temptation of being Afro-pessimists who think nothing good can come out of Africa, adding that the continent had managed to overcome its challenges.
Kibaki urged the media to shift their focus now on the emerging relations between Africa and its external partners, particularly the South-South cooperation which will herald new global dynamics in the near future.
Citing the case of the East African Community, Kibaki noted that media was best placed to promote awareness, discourse and lively debate on EAC and asked the practitioners to take deliberate interest in the region’s integration agenda.
The Pan Africa Media conference is taking place at a significant moment in the development of the East African Region. In East Africa, the process of regional integration has deepened with the signing of the Common Market protocol. Today, the East African Community comprises a large and robust market, with a population of 125 million people and a combined G.D.P. of US$ 70 billion.
Nairobi - Pana 19/03/2010
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