Revealed: Most covered MPs, governors and senators

Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua. He is among county bosses who received the most negative coverage. FILE PHOTO | PAUL WAWERU |

What you need to know:

  • The research also sought to classify the leaders’ media popularity based on the subjects they commented on.

  • The researchers identified some ‘hot topics’— also known as visibility predictors— that would determine media coverage.

  • They include devolution, corruption, criticising the government and general negative coverage.

  • The predictors of visibility are based on previous studies conducted in the West, although some topics such as devolution and corruption have been included to fit the Kenyan context.

They made a lot of noise to capture attention. And now the verdict is out.

Aden Duale, Ababu Namwamba and John Mbadi were the most covered members of the 11th Parliament by local newspapers. 

STUDY

This is a according to a new study.

Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero, Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto and Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho were the most visible county bosses in local papers, while senators Moses Wetang'ula (Bungoma), Boni Khalwale (Kakamega) and Kindiki Kithure (Tharaka-Nithi) received most media coverage among county lawmakers.

The study on the newspaper visibility of MPs, senators and governors perhaps indicates what the media focus on.

The study, conducted over a four-year period, between April 9, 2013 and April 9, 2017, analysed over 2,700 newspaper articles from Kenya’s four national dailies newspapers — Daily Nation, The Standard, People Daily and The Star.

The most covered female MPs — including woman representatives— are Runyenjes MP Cecily Mbarire, Sotik MP and aspiring Bomet governor Joyce Laboso and Mbita MP Millie Odhiambo.

POPULARITY

Equally popular female legislators include Homa Bay Woman Rep Gladys Wanga, Thika Town MP Alice Ng’ang’a and Nairobi Woman Rep Rachel Shebesh.

The research also sought to classify the leaders’ media popularity based on the subjects they commented on.

The researchers identified some ‘hot topics’— also known as visibility predictors— that would determine media coverage.

They include devolution, corruption, criticising the government and general negative coverage.

The predictors of visibility are based on previous studies conducted in the West, although some topics such as devolution and corruption have been included to fit the Kenyan context.

NEGATIVE

“For the MPs visibility, the strongest predictor was negative media coverage,” says Dr Kioko Ireri of USIU, who conducted the research alongside Mr Jimmy Ochieng.

“This is what made the most visible MPs make news as journalists covered them in negative light. Also because negative news sells.”

MPs Isaac Mwaura (nominated), Mutava Musyimi (Mbeere South) and Christopher Omulele (Luanda) were the most visible for commenting on devolution.

This is alongside Opiyo Wandayi (Ugunja), Alfred Keter (Nandi Hills) and Maina Kamanda (Starehe), who were most visible for commenting on corruption.

It appears that an MP’s visibility shoots up if he or she criticises the government, as Mr Wandayi appeared twice on the same list, this time for hitting out at the government.

KURIA

John Mbadi (Suba), the third most visible MP overall, also appears on the list of the most media-popular MPs for calling out the government.

Ayub Savula (Lugari) also comes third on the list of MPs who received most media coverage for lashing out at the government.

MPs Moses Kuria (Gatundu South), Aden Duale (Garissa Township) and Alfred Keter (Nandi Hills) received the most negative coverage during the four-year study period.

Mr Kuria’s top position on this list of negative coverage could perhaps be attributed to his hate speech charges.

The study also explored pictorial news visibility of the three categories of the leaders— MPs, governors and senators.

GOVERNORS

Mr Namwamba, Mr Duale and Abdullswamad Nassir (Mvita) top the list of MPs whose photographs appeared most in the four dailies.

Governors’ visibility was also determined on the criteria of the topic they commented on.

The strongest predictor for a governor’s media popularity was commenting on devolution.

“This is expected, since governors are at the centre of the implementation of devolution,” says Dr Ireri.

Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto emerged top in governors for commenting on devolution, something that could be attributed to the fact that he was chairman of the Council of Governors.

MUTUA

He is followed by his successor at the Council of Governors and Meru Governor Peter Munya and Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya.

Governors who commented most about corruption include Evans Kidero (Nairobi), Alfred Mutua (Machakos) and Isaac Ruto (Bomet).

Again, it would seem, the media are most likely to cover a governor if he or she criticises the government.

Mr Ruto emerged top on the list of media-visible governors based on criticising the government, followed by Mr Joho and Cornell Rasanga of Siaya.

Dr Mutua, who appeared second on the list of governors commenting on corruption, coincidentally appears first in governors that received most negative coverage, followed by Dr Kidero and William Kabogo (Kiambu).

KERROW

Mr Ruto, Mr Munya and Dr Kidero were the top three governors whose photographs appeared most between April 2013 and April 2017.

The biggest predictor for a senator’s media visibility was criticising the government, perhaps explaining why senators Wetang'ula, Khalwale and Johnson Muthama (Machakos) were the most visible.

Mandera Senator Billow Kerrow, the chairman of the Senate Finance, Commerce and Budget Committee, is the most visible senator in commenting on devolution matters, alongside his Kakamega counterpart Khalwale and Elgeyo-Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen.

Senators who commented most on corruption during the four-year period include Mr Khalwale, Mr Wetang'ula (Bungoma) and Johnson Muthama (Machakos).

JOHO

The most negatively covered senators by the four Kenyan dailies include Mr Wetang'ula, Mike Sonko (Nairobi) and Mr Khalwale.

In pictorial visibility of senators, Mr Wetang'ula, Mr Khalwale and Mombasa’s Hassan Omar top the list.

The greatest predictor of a female MP's media coverage was commenting on corruption and this is why MPs Mbarire, Ng’ang’a and Laboso also emerged as the most covered female MPs in the last Parliament.

Ms Wanga, Ms Mbarire and Mishi Mboko (Mombasa woman rep) were the female MPs who criticised the government most in the past four years.

KAJUJU

The female MPs who received the most negative coverage throughout the 11th Parliament include Pricilla Nyokabi (Nyeri woman rep), Cecily Mbarire and Kandara’s Alice Muthoni.

In matters pictorial, Meru Woman Rep Florence Kajuju’s photo appeared most across the four dailies, followed by Ms Mbarire and Ms Shebesh.

Overall, the most visible politicians in the last four years include Dr Kidero, Mr Wetang'ula, Mr Ruto, Mr Duale, Dr Khalwale and Mr Joho.

The most visible politicians — in pictorial coverage— are Mr Ruto, Mr Munya, Dr Kidero, Mr Joho and Mr Wetang'ula.

Dr Kioko Ireri, the Principal Researcher in the study funded by Research Office, United States International University-Africa, Nairobi, holds a PhD in Mass Communication from The Media School, Indiana University-Bloomington in the United States.

RESEARCHERS

He is an Associate Professor of Journalism and Mass Communication at the United States International University-Africa (USIU-Africa).

His research focuses on political communication, international communication, and journalism practice.

Dr Ireri’s research has been published in world-acclaimed peer reviewed journals such as Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly, International Journal of Communication, Journal of Media Ethics, Journalism, Journalism Practice, and African Journalism Studies, where he serves as a member of the editorial board.

Mr Jimmy O. Ochieng, the Co-Researcher, is currently pursuing two Masters degrees: MA in Communication Studies at the United States International University-Africa (USIU-Africa) and MA in Political Science at the University of Nairobi.

At USIU-Africa, he works closely with Dr Kioko Ireri in research related to political communication.