Media Landscape and Open Contracting Narrative in Kenya, Malawi and Tanzania

Abstract

This study examines current open contracting narrative in the media in Kenya, Malawi and Tanzania. Of particular interest is whether the media can advance an understanding of contracting issues among various stakeholders, including citizens, businesspeople and organisations, and civil society in the countries. Unfortunately, the media in the three countries has hardly demonstrated serious engagement with issues relating to open contracting because of numerous factors including lack of information on, and sometimes interest in issues relating to public contracts. Commercial, ownership and sometimes political pressures, editorial policies, lack of financial and other support for investigative journalism, newsroom dynamics including targets, corruption, among other issues, also contribute to lack of media interest in public contracts and their contents. The study argues that the term open contracting is not globally understood, and the media has not offered the information necessary to enhance its understanding and how it is applied in the countries as they seek to promote openness, transparency, responsibility and accountability in public contracting and deal with corruption and abuse of public office, and misuse, misappropriation, theft and mismanagement of public resources, undue influence, cronyism, self-interest and rent-seeking.

Keywords: open contracting, corruption, misappropriation, theft and mismanagement of public resources, accountability, governance, democracy, media