Information, Communications, and the Digital Economy Cabinet Secretary William Kabogo has warned that media organisations that “continuously hit the government” should not expect to receive state-funded advertising.
CS Kabogo made the remarks during the 8th Annual Editors Convention 2025, organized by the Kenya Editors Guild (KEG) in Kilifi County on November 28, where he pledged to streamline payment processes and drive reforms at the national broadcaster Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC).
He affirmed the government’s commitment to media freedom but stressed that commercial realities would influence the distribution of public advertising funds.
“But of course, if you are a commercial entity, and your job is to continuously hit on the government, it is painful for the government to continue putting money where you are. You can’t continue bashing me as Kabogo, and then I give you my adverts. There must be some relationship, so let’s build this relationship,” the ICT CXS said.
Kabogo pledges timely payment of pending bills
On concerns about monopoly in government advertising and ensuring fairness across media houses, the CS said, “That’s a very fair ask. I’m sure there is why that was done, but I will not sit here and promise you that I will continue to promote KBC through MyGov as the only way of advertising.”
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He noted that the government is taking deliberate steps to strengthen the effectiveness of its communication, including reforming government advertising and KBC.
Kabogo also noted that he had instructed his ministry to clear outstanding advertising bills promptly.
“We have talked about timely payments; it is important, even the Bible says you shall be paid for the work you have done. I have asked the ministry to ensure that all government advertising is paid on time, and this is something we have brought before Cabinet,” he told the gathering.
At the same time, the CS revealed that the Ministry of ICT has developed the draft National Communication Policy and the Government Communication Strategy (2025–2028) to streamline how the government engages with the public and the media.
The National Assembly Committee on Information, Communication and Innovation had, in September this year, called on the Government Advertising Agency (GAA) to put in place a proper monitoring and evaluation framework to justify the value for money of its advertising services with The Star newspaper.
MPs urge the Government Advertising Agency to go digital
Chairperson of the Dagoretti South Member of Parliament John Kiarie, during a meeting between the committee and GAA, termed the current evaluation framework as analogue and inaccurate, urging the Agency to move to digital.
“How do we ensure there is a more digitized measure to track our circulation? You have said you use the post office to record, and I think it is now time to step up and go digital. It is also not right to rely on the Star Newspaper, which you are a client of, to tell you how many issues they circulate every Tuesday; they could say a hundred copies, yet they are fewer or vice versa,” Kiarie said.
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Principal Secretary for the State Department for Broadcasting and Telecommunication, Stephen Isaboke, responded that to ensure compliance with the terms of the contract, GAA relies on a list of deliveries signed and stamped by the Postal Corporation of Kenya and Convergence Africa Media Ltd.
For value for money, PS Isaboke told the members that under the current contract between the GAA and the Star Newspaper, the State Department now pays a flat rate of Ksh9 million per week, compared to Ksh24.5 million per week under the previous contract, “thus saving Ksh15.5million, representing 63.26 percent savings.”
“Overall government was spending Ksh1.19billion versus Ksh432million currently giving a saving of Ksh758million. Therefore, value for money is clearly demonstrated,” the PS said.
However, members said this was not satisfactory, prompting them to ask the agency how they were spending Ksh9 million weekly on one newspaper.
The committee maintained that it wants GAA to come up with better strategies towards achieving an advertising agency that will be the biggest voice of the government’s successes.
