Kisii media practitioners have been challenged to embrace conflict-sensitive news coverage and packaging to enhance peaceful co-existence and cohesion among area residents as part of the efforts of marketing the region as a conducive investment destination.
Kisii County Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) Chairman, Benjamin Onkoba has underscored the importance of the media industry in the region embracing issue-based and development journalism to attract investments and spur economic growth in the region.
Speaking in Kisii town during the launch of the region's newspaper, The Gusii Chronicle, Onkoba reminded the media that it had the key to unlock investment potential and opportunities in the region through articulation of issues related to economic empowerment of the local community members.
"I am challenging the local media industry players to be objective in their news coverage and packaging, to ensure they unite the County residents towards a common goal of transforming this County into an economic hub. This will only happen, if the media around avoids fanning conflicts through skewed news coverage, instead focus on real issues and provide a forum for conflict resolutions arising from the devolved system of government created through the Constitution of Kenya,2010,"stated Onkoba.
Onkoba challenged the media in the region to be objective while reporting issues related to devolution, to avoid partisan and bias news coverage, instead give a chance to every voice in the society to be heard on various issues affecting the County.
He regretted that, if media coverage and news packaging reflected the region in the negative light, it will scare potential investors from investing in the region to the disadvantage of the area residents.