ADVOKS GLOBAL · KENYA
Media Council Act
7. Composition of the Council
Edition: 2025-08-01 · In force
7. Composition of the Council
(1)The Council shall consist of—(a)a chairperson appointed in accordance with this section;(b)one person nominated by the Cabinet Secretary;(c)seven other members appointed in accordance with this section.(2)Within fourteen days of the commencement of this Act, or of the occurrence of a vacancy in the office of chairperson or member, the Cabinet Secretary shall—(a)by notice in the Gazette and in at least two newspapers of national circulation, declare vacancies in the Council, and invite applications from qualified persons; and(b)convene a selection panel for the purpose of selecting suitable candidates for appointment as the chairperson or members of the Council.(3)The selection panel referred to under subsection (2), shall comprise of thirteen members nominated by the following organisations—(a)Kenya Union of Journalists;(b)Media Owners Association;(e)Kenya Correspondents Association;(f)Public Relations Society of Kenya;(g)National Gender and Equality Commission;(h)Association of Professional Societies in East Africa;(i)Consumers Federation of Kenya;(j)the Ministry responsible for matters relating to media;(k)Kenya News Agency; and(l)two persons nominated by schools of journalism of recognized universities, one representing public universities and the other representing private universities.(4)their first meeting the Panel shall appoint a Chairperson and a vice- chairperson who shall be of opposite gender.(5)An application in respect of a vacancy declared under subsection (2), shall be forwarded to the selection panel within seven days of the publication of the notice and may be made by—(a)any qualified person; or(b)any, person, organization or group of persons proposing the nomination of any qualified person.(6)The selection panel shall, subject to this section, determine its own procedure and the Cabinet Secretary shall provide it with such facilities and other support as it may require for the discharge of its functions under this section.(7)The selection panel shall consider the applications, shortlist and publish the names and qualifications of all the applicants and those shortlisted by the Panel in the Gazette and at least two daily newspapers of national circulation within seven days from the expiry of the deadline of receipt of applications under subsection (5).(8)The selection panel shall interview the shortlisted applicants within fourteen days from the date of publication of the list of shortlisted applicants under subsection (7).(9)After carrying out the interviews, the selection panel shall select one person qualified to be appointed as chairperson and seven persons qualified to be members of the Council, and forward the names to the Cabinet Secretary.(10)The Cabinet Secretary shall, within seven days of receipt of the names, by notice in the Gazette, appoint a chairperson and seven members of the Council.(11)The Cabinet Secretary may reject any nomination solely on any of the grounds set out in section 8(2), whereafter the Cabinet Secretary shall communicate the decision to the selection panel.(12)Upon receipt of the notice of rejection under subsection (11), the selection panel shall select another person from the list of shortlisted applicants and submit his or her name to the Cabinet Secretary for appointment.(13)Despite the foregoing provisions of this section, the Cabinet Secretary may, by notice in the Gazette, extend the period specified in respect of any matter under this section by a period not exceeding fourteen days.(14)In selecting, nominating, approving or appointing the chairperson and members of the Council, the selection panel and the Cabinet Secretary shall—(a)ensure that the nominees to the Council reflect the interests of all sections of the society;(b)ensure equal opportunities for persons with disabilities and other marginalized groups; and(c)ensure that not more than two-thirds of the members shall be of the same gender.(15)The selection panel shall stand dissolved upon the appointment of the chairperson or members of the Council.