The Media Council of Kenya (MCK) partnered with the Open Institute to launch the first media centre in Kilifi County! Launched at the Maono Space in Malindi in March 2024, the Maono Media Hub aims to support the production of high-quality content and provide journalists with a conducive working environment.
Supporting Journalists Countrywide
Established in 2007, the Media Council of Kenya (MCK) is an independent national institution established to regulate the media industry in Kenya. It ensures the conduct and discipline of journalists and media enterprises and promotes media freedom and independence.
Initially, the Council developed media centres as part of a strategic initiative to provide journalists with a conducive working environment during the COVID-19 pandemic, when many media houses had closed their offices. Now, these media centres have proved to be essential in enabling journalists to work efficiently and safely in different parts of the country. As of now, MCK has successfully set up media centres in Kisumu, Mombasa, Meru, and Nakuru counties. The Maono Media Hub is the 5th media centre set up, and the first in Kilifi County. Each media centre is equipped with high-speed internet, computers, furniture, and adequate security. This initiative supports the MCK’s mission to enhance professional standards and ensure that journalists have the necessary tools and environment to perform their duties effectively.
Open Institute Executive Director Al Kags, MCK Chief Executive Officer David Omwoyo and Manager at Maono Space Chris Kariuki during the launch.
A Partnership for Progress
The partnership between the Media Council of Kenya and the Open Institute is a significant step toward enhancing the capabilities of local journalists. This space is designed to bring journalists together, offering a common area equipped with state-of-the-art tools and resources essential for content creation.
Maono Space is a vibrant ecosystem designed to foster innovation and collaboration among community-based organizations (CBOs) and local changemakers. Our mission at Maono is to provide a space where local changemakers work, network and collaborate to drive development in their communities. By providing a well-equipped, collaborative environment, the centre will enable journalists to produce quality stories and foster a community of media professionals dedicated to impactful journalism.
Our collective goal
The launch of the media centre at Maono Space in Malindi aims to:
Enhance Capacity
The centre will provide resources, knowledge-sharing, and skills training to strengthen the capabilities of community-based organizations (CBOs) and local changemakers. In addition, it will enhance professional standards and support the development of local journalists through training and provision of resources.
Facilitate Collaboration
MCK’s media centres are envisioned to bring journalists together, fostering a collaborative environment for content creation and networking. We envision that the Maono Media Centre will create opportunities for CBOs and local changemakers to connect, share experiences, and collaborate on projects.
Nurture Innovation
By providing journalists with the tools and resources needed to innovate in their reporting and content production, we hope that the Maono Media Centre will encourage creativity and new ideas by providing a supportive environment for developing innovative solutions to local challenges.
Strengthen Participation
Our mission at Maono involves encouraging citizens to actively engage in governance and development initiatives through a network of supportive organizations. Our goal is that the Media Centre will promote ethical journalism by ensuring that journalists can operate in a free and independent environment, thereby enhancing public engagement and trust in the media.
Our hope is that the centre will increase the capacity of local journalists, enhance the quality of media content, and contribute to the overall growth and development of the media industry in Kilifi County. By integrating the strengths of Maono Space with the objectives of the MCK, this partnership is positioned to create a powerful platform for local journalists, fostering a collaborative, innovative, and supportive environment that will drive excellence in journalism.
The official signing of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) between MCK and Maono Space.
We celebrate this new chapter in Malindi’s media landscape! We invite every local journalist in Malindi to come and utilize this space. It’s an excellent opportunity to network with fellow journalists, create great stories and work towards producing content that makes a difference.
Come and be part of a community dedicated to excellence in journalism.
See you at Maono Space!
