ABSTRACT
Existing research in media accountability studies shows that the influence of traditional media regulatory frameworks, such as the press councils, is increasingly weaker and their effectiveness in the regulation of journalism performance is being questioned. This chapter explores a media accountability landscape of a non-Western journalism culture to contribute to the literature and provide a basis for further discourses on the viability of media criticism as a form of media accountability. It shows the increasing role of the citizen as the media critic and subsequently the seemingly waning role of traditional media accountability instruments such as press councils. Apart from offering an inventory of media accountability practices in Kenya, the chapter explains the increasing relevance of media criticism in an African journalistic culture and media accountability studies. It identifies media accountability practices in Kenya and pinpointed the sources of criticism of journalism practice in the country.
