MCK CEO David Omwoyo elected to helm East African Press Councils
The Media Council of Kenya (MCK) Chief Executive Officer, David Omwoyo, has landed a new role at the East African Press Councils (EAPC). In a press statement on 16 July, the EAPC said Omowyo was chosen at the election of its leadership team for the 2025-2027 term.
The regional body, which is dedicated to media regulation and content moderation, announced that the MCK boss is now its second Chairperson, and will succeed Kajubi Mukajanga of Tanzania.
The announcement was made during a strategic meeting of media regulators from the East African Community (EAC) on 15 July on the sidelines of the second Pan-African Media Councils Summit in Arusha
‘Omwoyo, previously the EAPC Secretary, brings extensive experience in advocating for uniform media standards across the region,’ read its statement. ‘His leadership is expected to bolster the EAPC’s mission to foster a free, accountable, and professional media landscape.’
Omwoyo, Sungura and Jabweli assume new EAPC roles
At the same time, the regional body said that the Executive Secretary of the Media Council of Tanzania (MCT) and Chairperson of the Network of Independent Media Councils in Africa (NIMCA), Ernest Sungura, assumes the role of Vice-Chairperson. Peter Okello Jabweli of the Media Council of Uganda has been appointed as Secretary.
Established in 2023, the EAPC unites media councils from EAC Partner States, including Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Somalia.
According to the body, the trio will serve two-year terms, guiding it towards the ambitious goals of its 2024-2027 Strategic Plan.
‘The plan focuses on five key areas:
- fostering robust and independent journalism
- embracing innovation to adapt to the evolving media landscape
- ensuring the economic sustainability of media organisations
- promoting high-quality, diverse and collaborative journalism, and
- strengthening the EAPC’s long-term capacity and impact
The new leadership is expected to, among other things, advocate for harmonised accreditation for EAC member states through the development of a regional media protocol and to undertake a state-of-the-media survey for the region
During the EAPC inaugural Strategic Plan launch, Omwoyo described it as a significant milestone in the pursuit of media regulation and content moderation guided by common regional principles.
‘I am pleased that the resolve of media regulators in East Africa in 2019 to have a media that operates within values that we respect is finally achieved.’
The new Chairperson said the EAPC’s mission was geared towards ‘less of regulation and more of press freedom’.
PICTURE: Courtesy Media Council of Kenya
This article was first published here
