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Communications specialist with 20 years experience as print investigative journalist, editor, managing editor, and head of training and media monitoring organisation. Broad experience working with human rights, democracy, justice and free speech civil society and mainstream media. Respected political analyst with extensive political contacts in East Africa region and global media. Based in Nairobi |
 Contact David Makali
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Area of Expertise: |
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Communications, Media, Knowledge Management, Editor
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Fundraising, Business Development, Grants Writer
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Government, Governance, Reforms
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Human Rights, Law, Migration, Conflicts, Justice
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Professional Experience: |
Makali is a distinguished journalist/political analyst with a reputation for high integrity. He has been reporter, editor, trainer, publisher, researcher, media critic and press freedom activist cumulatively for over 20 years.
His career as a journalist has straddled mainstream and alternative media as well as press freedom advocacy that has contributed greatly to Kenya's media law jurisprudence through litigation.
He has worked as investigative reporter (The People, 1992-94), Associate Editor (The Option,1995-6), Managing Editor (The Nairobi Law Monthly, 1997-98), columnist (Daily Nation, 2001-03), and Managing Editor (The Sunday Standard, 2003-05).
Over the last decade, he has held various roles in advancing freedom of expression and journalism excellence.
He has served as a member of the Governing Council of the International Freedom of Expression Exchange, IFEX, comprising the leading freedom of expression and press groups in the world; represented Africa on the 12-member Steering Committee of the Global Forum for Media Development (http://www.gfmd.info/); founded and chaired the Eastern Africa Editors Forum; served as member of the executive council of the Africa Editors Forum (TAEF).
He has trained and mentored many journalists and founded numerous initiatives to promote excellence in journalism, including the Kenya journalism awards. He is the director of The Media Institute and chair of the legal affairs committee of the Kenya Editors’ Guild, in which capacity he is deeply engaged in routine media industry issues, including legislation and enforcement of ethics.
He has researched and written extensively on media, human rights, politics and democracy issues in the region. He led the media component of the joint Kenya Domestic Observer Mission at the 2002 General Election.
His current work revolves around monitoring media performance, and intervening in threats against media freedom in the east Africa region. As the editor of Expression Today media review and The Bulletin e-letter (www.eastafricapress.net), Makali is routinely engaged in monitoring and reviewing media performance and standards in the EA region.
Some of his publications include the report, Cheating Democracy: The 1997 General Election in Kenya (2000) and the reference book, Media Law and Practice - the Kenyan Jurisprudence (2003).
A past democracy visitor to Denmark, the United States and Germany, Makali was the 2005 recipient of the Fr. John Kaiser Human Rights Award conferred by the Law Society of Kenya for his role in the campaign for human rights and the fight against corruption.
He remains conspicuous as a regular contributor and political /current affairs analyst for various local and international media who consult him on diverse issues, ranging from media to democratisation in the region.
Besides his professional career, Makali has interests in entertainment industry through the Soundafrica record company.
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Education: |
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Educated at Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism (MSc); University of Nairobi, Kenya (Post grad Diploma in Journalism); and Moi University (BA, Political Science).
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Available for: |
- Consulting assignments
- Job opportunities
- Being headhunted – make me an offer
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Years of Experience:
15-20 years |
Highest Qualification:
Masters |
Languages:
English, Kiswahili |
Nationality:
Kenya
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