Kenya’s Digital Revolution: Social Media Becomes Leading News Source, Overtaking TV and Radio

A Media Council of Kenya survey shows social media now leads news consumption in Kenya, overtaking television and radio as digital access expands nationwide.
Precious Eseaye
Precious Eseaye • Travel • 1 month ago • 1 minute read •
Key Points
• Social media platforms have emerged as the primary source of news for Kenyans, surpassing television and radio.
• Social media now accounts for 39 percent of news consumption in Kenya, up from 37 percent in the previous year.
• This shift is driven by increased smartphone ownership, improved internet infrastructure, and the ability of social media to deliver personalized content.
Kenya’s Digital Revolution: Social Media Becomes Leading News Source, Overtaking TV and Radio

A national media consumption survey by the Media Council of Kenya shows that platforms such as Facebook, X (Twitter), and TikTok now lead as the primary sources of news in Kenya. The findings reflect a steady shift toward digital-first news habits.

The survey reports that social media accounts for 39% of news consumption in Kenya, rising slightly from 37% in 2024. This indicates a continued increase in online information reliance among audiences.

Television follows at 31%, while radio accounts for 21%, based on the same national breakdown. These figures show that traditional media remains relevant but is gradually losing dominance.

Other sources remain significantly smaller in comparison. Family and friends account for 4%, online news websites 3%, and newspapers just 1%, highlighting the continued decline of print-based news distribution.

The shift is linked to increased smartphone access, wider internet coverage, and algorithm-driven content delivery systems. These factors have made personalized digital feeds the dominant pathway for news discovery.

Despite this shift, legacy broadcasters continue to perform strongly. Citizen TV remains the most watched television station, while Radio Citizen continues to lead radio listenership in Kenya.

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