SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE MEDIA: DIALOGUE AND ACTION

AMWIK Executive Director Queenter Mbori speaking against sexual harassment and promotes a safer media environment during the "sexual harassment in the media: Dialogue and action." (Photo credits)

By: Glad Tv reporter 

In a packed auditorium at the Aga Khan University in Nairobi, Kenya, media professionals and advocates gathered to address the pervasive issue of sexual harassment in the industry. 

According to recent research, 60% of media professionals in Kenya have experienced some form of sexual harassment in their careers. This mirrors global trends, where roughly 41% of women journalists worldwide report workplace harassment. 

Speaking at the high-level dialogue themed “Ending Sexual Harassment in Media: From Dialogue to Action”,President of the Kenya Editors' Guild Zubeidah Kananu described the issue as an “epidemic” threatening not only individual safety but also press freedom and the integrity of journalism.

“Sexual harassment is alarmingly pervasive in Kenyan media. More than every other person in our newsrooms has faced unwanted advances, coercion, or degrading sexual remarks. This isn’t just a personal violation – it is a direct threat to equality, diversity, and the freedom of the press,” said Ms. Kananu.

She cited research by the Association of Media Women in Kenya (AMWIK) indicating that 60% of media professionals in Kenya have experienced harassment, while up to 83% never report cases due to fear of retaliation. Globally, 41% of women journalists report harassment, with Kenya ranking among the worst-affected countries.

Ms. Kananu called for urgent reforms, including robust anti-harassment newsroom policies, safe and independent reporting channels, and industry-wide accountability frameworks to prevent repeat offenders from moving between media houses. She emphasized that cultural change is as critical as legal frameworks:

“Rules can punish bad behavior, but culture determines whether that behavior happens in the first place. Silence is the enemy. We must transform our newsrooms into places of respect, safety, and equality,” she added.

AMWIK Executive Director Queenter Mbori reinforced the urgency, highlighting findings from AMWIK’s 2023 research on harassment and mental health impacts.

“Interns and young journalists remain particularly vulnerable to harassment from senior colleagues. These systemic challenges are driving young women out of journalism and into silence. This data compels us to make accountability the new industry norm,” she said.

She stressed that harassment is deeply normalized in Kenyan newsrooms and has been ignored for too long:

“Gender inequality persists in Kenya, leading to power imbalances that contribute to sexual harassment. Too often, perpetrators go unpunished while survivors are left unsupported. This cannot continue.”

Ms. Mbori outlined AMWIK’s interventions, including a model Sexual Harassment Policy now adopted by 12 media houses, male allyship programs in Kisumu, Mombasa, and Nairobi, and partnerships with both local and regional bodies such as UNESCO, FEMNET, and WAN-IFRA.

“Policies alone are never enough. We need to shift mindsets and build allyship across the industry. Our men-to-men engagement programs have shown that lasting change demands the commitment of everyone, not just women,” she explained.

“Our endgame is bold but clear – zero harassment in the media. By closing implementation gaps, listening to survivors, and enforcing accountability, we will build newsrooms where every journalist can thrive without fear,” she concluded.

The conference, organized under the Kenya Media Sector Working Group, builds on the 2019 Maanzoni Declaration, where media stakeholders first resolved to confront harassment sector-wide. Participants today committed to transforming dialogue into action through:

• Immediate review and strengthening of newsroom anti-harassment policies.
• Establishing confidential, independent reporting mechanisms.
• Industry-wide accountability frameworks to track and sanction perpetrators.
• Continuous staff training and awareness campaigns to challenge victim-blaming attitudes.
• Psychosocial support systems for survivors.

As the event concluded, speakers urged collective responsibility and sustained advocacy.

“The time for action is now – not in the next strategic plan, but today. We owe it to survivors, to the next generation of journalists, and to the very principles of journalism. If we act decisively, 2025 will be remembered as the turning point when Kenyan media stood up and said: no more,” Ms. Kananu affirmed.