Paper short abstract:

This paper seeks to discuss alternative media ownership and its implications on shifting power dynamics in political economies of the Kenyan media. It will question the term media ownership in an era where media ranges from old media, social media platforms, to podcasts and streaming services.

Paper long abstract:

This paper seeks to discuss alternative media ownership and its implications on shifting power dynamics in political economies of the media in Kenya. It will question the term media ownership in an era where media ranges from old media (TV, radio, and newspapers), social media platforms, bloggers to podcasts and streaming services. A case for the argument of shifting power relations in media ownership is the recognition of the fact that regulations for media ownership were first drafted in many countries around the world when social media and mobile technologies as we know them today had not emerged. Today social media and mobile technologies are a critical alternative source of political news. The questions guiding this paper are: How do we conceptualize media ownership in an increasingly mediated environment in Kenya? How has the ownership of alternative media contributed to shifting power dynamics in Kenya? To what extent does ownership of alternative media contribute to users challenging power and countering state controls? With social media increasingly shifting from "alternative" to "mainstream" source of political news consumption, social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook have not only become sources of breaking news, but also spaces of contentious political engagement. However, of concern is, the growing state interference and repression of bloggers and other social media users by government forces. The paper will focus on alternative media ownership and shifting power relations within emerging digital media frameworks; one that is highly driven by user generated content and users becoming media owners.