Relief to media houses as govt pledges to settle Ksh.1.5B pending advertising bills

ICT Principal Secretary Jerome Ochieng now says the government has committed to settle the Ksh.1.5 billion in pending bills owed to media houses in the country for advertising.

PS Ochieng said the Government Advertising Agency (GAA) and the Media Owners Association (MOA) met last week and committed to settle the billions worth of verified pending bills as soon as possible.

“We are aware that such pending bills are some of the key challenges facing media houses especially with the constricted revenue flow as result of the ongoing COVID 19 pandemic,” he said.

The PS said that once settled, the money will go a long way in alleviating some of the financial pressures being experienced in the sector.

Speaking at the ongoing 3rd annual Kenya Editors’ Guild congress in Kisumu, PS Ochieng reiterated the ministry’s commitment to ensuring that all verified bills are paid.

He said this is meant to ensure that government lends a supporting hand to businesses like the media industry during this time.

The PS also lauded the Media Council of Kenya (MCK) initiative of the Ksh.100 Million COVID-19 grant kitty as part of a practical intervention to keep journalists and their associations at work.

“This historic grant targeting community radio and television stations across all the 47 counties has so far been able to reach more than 150 media houses,” he said.

Pending bills have continued to weigh down local enterprises, media houses included, frustrating the conduct of business between government and the private sector.

The event was graced by among others President of Kenya Editors Guild Churchill Otieno, CEO of the Media Council of Kenya David Omwoyo among others.