Podcasting and digital media in Africa are extremely fast-growing and are increasingly providing an avenue for stories that would never be told by mainstream media. Stories of marginalized groups that can offer dignity, nuance, and decenter of the perpetrators of injustice.

This is especially important because of how Kenya’s media ownership is structured. Kenya has a quasi-independent media. On paper, the media houses are free from government interference but in practice, because the media owners are all politicians. Therefore, the media tows the government/ political party lines. As a result, all too often, critical stories of people and places that are suffering injustice cannot be told effectively by the mainstream media or are killed quite quickly.

Indeed, the situation gets more and more critical with every election cycle as the politicians tighten their grip around the editorial teams that they basically fully control.

Against this backdrop, podcasting in Kenya has taken on a very important role. This medium has brought a chance for true media freedom and for true media independence. Through this medium, individuals can now curate, produce and publish the stories that matter to them and their communities. They can now tell the stories without undue influence and can deliver the nuance and clarity that is required to fully represent their hopes, dreams, and desires.

This recent CNN Africa Story covers the dynamic nature of the podcast scene in Kenya (and Africa) and also gives a glimpse into the potential of podcasting and its impact both on the wider media landscape and on audiences today and in the future. In conclusion, a key driver of more, diversity, representation, and expansion of media freedoms in the next decade or so in the countries so Africa is podcasting and new media.

Watch  the video here

https://edition.cnn.com/videos/tv/2021/04/07/inside-africa-podcast-nigeria-kenya-south-africa-spc.cnn/video/playlists/africa/