The significance of the results lies in the larger trend dynamics (regarding the amount of reporting) – not in the accurate classification or analysis of individual articles. [...] As the graph shows, “the West” rarely appears in the coverage, alt- hough there is a slight increase in the use of the term since 2022, which coincides with in- creasing coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russian attack on Ukraine. [...] The excerpt highlights the enormous media attention for the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic in relation to China, reflecting the overall reporting trend visualized in Graph 1. [...] The newly arrived ambassador set out to publish opinion pieces and increased social media activity.20 However, as the coverage of controversies re-emerged as one of the most prominent topics when the pandemic gradually disappeared from the news, the level of Chinese influence on public discourse in Kenya seems to remain limited. [...] Various European actors on the ground have already started focusing their communication on the transformative nature and local im- pact of investments, such as in the context of the Global Gateway (as opposed to the geopo- litical rationale that is more prominent in the Brussels discourse).
Authors
- Pages
- 11
- Published in
- Germany
Table of Contents
- Kenyas media landscape and external actors 3
- Media reporting on Europe and China in Kenya Moderately increasing interest 4
- The Covid-19 pandemic and the Russian attack on Ukraine have received signifi- cant media attention with reference to China and the EUEurope. 4
- A West versus China framing is not a prominent theme in the coverage. 5
- Coverage of Europe and China is largely actor-specific. 5
- The local impact of geopolitics matters not global power competition itself. 5
- Big Topics in the coverage of the EUEurope 6
- The war in Ukraine has drawn attention to the EUs role in global affairs 6
- Europe takes diplomatic action with limited recognition. 7
- Socio-political controversies run through the coverage of Europe adding to the challenge. 7
- Big Topics in the coverage on China 8
- Crisis of reputation and the outbreak of the global pandemic. 8
- Chinese domestic and regional issues are receiving increasing media attention. 9
- Megaprojects strongly influence public opinion. 9
- Conclusions and policy recommendations 10
- European actors need to increasingly consider the EUs role in global political af- fairs and socio-political controversies in Kenya. 10
- A West versus China framing does not resonate with the public. 10
- An open and diverse media environment is essential for European actors wishing to engage in public discourse in Kenya. 11
