NAIROBI, Kenya – Media Council of Kenya (MCK) Chief Executive Officer David Omwoyo has reflected on the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s complex relationship with the media, describing resistance as a defining feature of the veteran politician’s public life.
Speaking during the RAO2026 memorial conference at Daystar University, Omwoyo drew on his personal encounters with Raila to describe a leader who could fiercely challenge journalists over their coverage while recognising the importance of a free press in a democratic society.
“For me, when you think of Raila, what comes to mind is resistance,” Omwoyo said, recalling his long association with the former Prime Minister.
He cited Raila’s objections to media coverage he considered unfair, including a call for a media boycott in 2021 that prompted intervention by the Media Council.
“He would complain when the media got things wrong or when he felt he was not being favourably covered, but he would always stop at that,” Omwoyo said, adding that Raila understood the media was not his enemy.
Raila Recognised Media’s Role In Democracy
Omwoyo also pointed to Raila’s participation in the Media Council’s 2018 Annual Journalism Excellence Awards as evidence of his engagement with journalists and appreciation of their work.
He said Raila’s experiences of political detention and repression had informed his understanding of the dangers of restricting the press and limiting public discourse.
According to Omwoyo, the former Prime Minister recognised that suppressing media freedom could ultimately undermine a country’s ability to think critically and debate public issues.
Those lessons, he said, remain relevant as journalism confronts emerging challenges in the digital information environment.
Omwoyo Warns Against Censorship And Algorithmic Bias
Omwoyo called on journalists and other stakeholders to resist censorship by both the State and administrative authorities, while also confronting emerging threats posed by digital platforms.
“We must resist State censorship, administration censorship. Freedom is resisting and fighting back. We must resist algorithm bias,” he said.
He warned that algorithmic manipulation and the blurring of boundaries between journalism and propaganda posed new challenges to the public’s access to reliable information.
Omwoyo’s remarks placed Raila’s experiences with the media within a wider debate about press freedom, accountability and the ability of journalists to question those in power without fear.
‘A Leader Who Cannot Accept Criticism Must Never Ask For Votes’
Omwoyo said the ability of political leaders to tolerate scrutiny and criticism remained a key test of democratic leadership.
“A leader who cannot accept criticism must never ask people for a vote,” he said.
He described press freedom as the freedom to question, challenge and, where necessary, annoy those in positions of authority.
Omwoyo argued that the strength of a democracy should be measured not only by the rights it guarantees on paper but also by how safely journalists can operate while holding leaders accountable.
