MCK CEO David Omwoyo elected chairperson of East African Press Councils
His leadership is expected to bolster its mission to foster a free, accountable, and professional media landscape
Media Council of Kenya (MCK) Chief Executive Officer David Omwoyo has been appointed the chairperson of the East African Press Councils (EAPC), as the regional body, which is dedicated to media regulation and content moderation, embarks on a new chapter with the election of its leadership team for the 2025-2027 term.
The announcement was made during a strategic meeting of media regulators from the East African Community (EAC) on Wednesday on the sidelines of the second Pan-African Media Councils Summit in Arusha.
He succeeds Kajubi Mukajanga, the founding chair and former Executive Director of the Media Council of Tanzania (MCT).
Omwoyo, previously the EAPC Secretary, brings extensive experience in advocating for uniform media standards across the region. His leadership is expected to bolster the EAPC’s mission to foster a free, accountable, and professional media landscape.
Ernest Sungura, Executive Secretary of the MCT and Chairperson of the Network of Independent Media Councils in Africa (NIMCA), assumes the role of Vice-Chairperson. Peter Okello Jabweli of the Media Council of Uganda has been appointed as Secretary.
The trio will serve two-year terms, guiding the EAPC towards the ambitious goals of its 2024-2027 Strategic Plan.
The plan focuses on five key areas: fostering robust and independent journalism, embracing innovation to adapt to the evolving media landscape, ensuring the economic sustainability of media organisations, promoting high-quality, diverse, and collaborative journalism, and strengthening the EAPC’s long-term capacity and impact.
Established in 2023, the EAPC unites media councils from EAC Partner States, including Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Somalia.
The new leadership is expected to, among other things, advocate for harmonised accreditation for EAC member states through the development of a regional media protocol and to undertake a state-of-the-media survey for the region.
