Retired Journalists Should Not Fade Away, Says MCK

By Suleiman Mbatiah

Retired journalists should remain part of national conversations on journalism, professionalism and media transformation, the Media Council of Kenya (MCK) has said, as it backs efforts to recognize veterans who shaped the country’s media industry.

The Council said retired practitioners have a key role in mentoring young journalists in the evolving media landscape, where digital disruption, changing audience habits and ethical pressures are reshaping newsroom practice and professional standards.

MCK CEO David Omwoyo said the Council seeks to transform their decades of experience into a resource for mentorship, welfare advocacy and media history, while strengthening links between veterans and current practitioners.

He was speaking during the media launch of the Golden Jubilee celebration of veteran journalist and broadcaster Fred Obachi Machoka, scheduled for September, and presented as a platform for honouring Kenya’s media legends.

“The event aims to celebrate both the past achievements of veterans and their future contributions. The goal is to create a legacy that will outlive the current generation and benefit future journalists,” he said.

The initiative seeks to move the industry from “brain drain” to “brain gain” by ensuring that veteran journalists continue contributing their knowledge, networks and professional values to newsrooms, training spaces and policy conversations.

Omwoyo said MCK will provide secretariat support to organizers to help plan and execute the September celebration, while creating space for discussions on the welfare of retired journalists and their continued sectoral contribution.

He said experienced media practitioners should not be allowed to exit the industry without transferring their skills, invoking the Swedish saying, “rest is rust,” to stress the need for active mentorship and continued professional engagement.

Machoka, whose career spans five decades, reflected on the sacrifices made by journalists and broadcasters over the years and said honoring pioneers would affirm the value of work done across the profession.

“When a profession honors its veterans, it tells every journalist and broadcaster still on duty that their work has worth beyond the day’s bulletin,” said Machoka during the launch in Nairobi.

Machoka said the partnership with the regulator will support structured mentorship opportunities through masterclasses and industry engagements, allowing young journalists to learn directly from seasoned professionals who understand the sector’s institutional memory.

He described the September event as a national legacy celebration that will recognise pioneers of Kenyan radio and television, while tracing the industry’s journey from the analogue era to the digital age.

“The event is not a personal celebration but a tribute to all who contributed to the media industry,” Machoka said, placing the Jubilee within a wider reflection on Kenya’s broadcasting history.

Veteran journalist Lee Njiru highlighted the struggles facing retired journalists and welcomed the proposal to establish a welfare framework that would respond to the needs of media practitioners after active service.

Pamela Mburia, a veteran journalist and member of the Association of Professional Broadcasters, expressed gratitude to Machoka and the Council, saying collaboration was necessary to create lasting impact in the industry.

Kenya Editors Guild President Zubeida Kananu called for the protection of mainstream media and urged the industry to tap into veterans’ knowledge and skills to support the next generation of journalists.

The September celebration is expected to bring together media practitioners, industry stakeholders and Rumba maestros from across Africa in honor of Machoka’s contribution and the broader legacy of Kenya’s media veterans.