Veteran journalist Maina Muiruri has been reappointed as Chairperson of the Media Council of Kenya (MCK), marking the start of his second and final three-year term. The appointment was confirmed through a Kenya Gazette Notice dated July 25, 2025, by Information, Communications, and Digital Economy Cabinet Secretary William Kabogo.
Muiruri will serve alongside three other reappointed board members Tabitha Mutemi, Tim Wanyonyi, and Susan Karago. Their reappointments bring stability to the MCK, which has been without a board since October 2022 due to a stalled appointment process.
The MCK board comprises a Chairperson and eight members, with one seconded from the ICT Ministry. According to the Media Council Act, the CS is allowed to reappoint up to four existing members and fill the remaining positions through a competitive process. Kabogo announced that four seats remain vacant and will be filled through a selection panel to be formed within a week.
The previous selection process collapsed under former ICT CS Eliud Owalo after legal complications arose. A court case was triggered by a conflict-of-interest advisory from then-Attorney General Justin Muturi, pointing out that some applicants were also part of the recruitment panels. This stalled the process for over two years before it was formally terminated two months ago.
Kabogo has been commended for resolving the prolonged stalemate. The reappointed members are said to have met all conditions for renewal after serving during a particularly challenging time in the media sector.
During Muiruri’s first term, the MCK helped the industry navigate the turbulent COVID-19 period, offering financial relief to struggling grassroots media houses and rural radio stations. The Council also expanded its footprint to five regional offices Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Meru, and Eldoret and promoted the formation of press clubs in key towns.
Muiruri, who holds degrees in Political Science and International Relations from the University of Nairobi, has an extensive media background. He rose through the ranks at the Standard Group and later became the founding Managing Editor of The People Daily, Kenya’s first free newspaper. His leadership is expected to further entrench MCK’s mandate in media regulation and development.
