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Veteran journalist Maina Muiruri has been reappointed as Chairperson of the Media Council of Kenya (MCK), alongside board members Tabitha Mutemi, Tim Wanyonyi, and Susan Karago, according to a Kenya Gazette notice dated July 25, 2025.
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The announcement was made by Information, Communications and Digital Economy Cabinet Secretary William Kabogo, who confirmed that the four will serve a second and final three-year term.
Kabogo also declared four additional board positions vacant, with a competitive recruitment process set to begin within a week. A selection panel will be constituted to oversee the hiring.
This marks a major step in restoring full leadership at MCK, which has been without a functional board since October 2022. At the time, then-CS Eliud Owalo declined to reappoint eligible members and instead ordered a complete overhaul of the board.
The Media Council Board consists of a chairperson and eight members, one of whom is seconded from the ICT Ministry. As per the Media Council Act, the Cabinet Secretary is allowed to reappoint up to four members and must fill the remaining seats through a competitive process. However, the CS can also choose to replace all members, as was done previously.
Owalo’s replacement process was marred by controversy after former Attorney General Justin Muturi flagged a conflict of interest involving candidates who were also part of the recruiting organizations. This led to a legal battle that halted the process for over two years until it was recently resolved.
Determined to end the prolonged leadership vacuum, Kabogo proceeded with the reappointment of the four members, who were said to have met all the necessary requirements.
During his previous tenure, Muiruri led the Council through challenging times, including the Covid-19 pandemic, which severely impacted the media sector. Under his leadership, the MCK rolled out a financial rescue initiative targeting grassroots media outlets, particularly rural radio stations.
The Council also expanded its presence by establishing regional offices in Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Meru, and Eldoret, and launched initiatives to form press clubs in major towns across the country.
Muiruri holds a BA in Political Science and an MA in International Relations from the University of Nairobi.
He rose through the ranks as a writer and editor at the Standard Group before becoming the founding Managing Editor of The People Daily, Kenya’s first free-distribution newspaper.
