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Dr Michael NDONYE, PhD.

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Staff Information
PERSONAL DETAILS
Designation
Senior Lecturer, Communication and Media
Department
Mass Communication
Section
School of Music and Media
Address
mndonye@kabarak.ac.ke
SUMMARY

Dr. Michael M. Ndonye is a public intellectual, columnist, and academic leader with a distinguished career in media, communication, governance and leadership. He currently serves as Dean of the School of Music and Media at Kabarak University, where he is a senior lecturer in Communication and Media Studies. From 2017 to 2025, he was the Founding Head of the Department of Mass Communication, mentoring a generation of scholars in media, politics, and public discourse.

Dr. Ndonye holds a PhD in Communication and Media from Laikipia University, a Master’s in Journalism and Mass Communication, and a Bachelor of Arts in Literature, Philosophy, and Economics from Egerton University. His interdisciplinary training informs a distinctive approach to media analysis, grounded in the political economy of communication.

He is a weekly columnist with The Standard (print and digital), where he is known for incisive commentary on presidential politics, strategy, and communication in Kenya. His thought leadership has been featured on BBC, KTN News, and Spice FM, offering theory-driven insights into governance and political messaging.

In 2017, Dr. Ndonye was named a Governance Institute Laureate by the Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA), Dakar, Senegal. His scholarship and public engagement continue to shape national conversations on leadership, media ethics, and democratic accountability.

Beyond academia, Dr. Ndonye is the Managing Editor at Editon Consortium Publishing—the largest scholarly publisher in Kenya. He is also a media entrepreneur with interests in digital journalism, a podcast host, and a writing consultant with the Media Council of Kenya.

 

SCHOLAR ACCOUNTS LINKS

 

ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS
  1. PhD in Communication and Media (2016-2019): –Laikipia University, Kenya. 
  2. Master of Journalism and Mass Communication (2012– Dec. 2015): –Egerton University, Kenya. 
  3. Bachelor Degree [Literature, Philosophy & Economics] (2005–2009): –Egerton University, Kenya
  4. Certificate in Digital Journalism (2022): Reuters–Online Training sponsored by Meta.
  5. Kenya certificate of Secondary Education (2000–2003): –Nyangwa Secondary School (Mbeere South), Embu County.
  6. Certificate in Computer Applications (2006): –Egerton University ICT Centre.

 

SELECTED OTHER TRAININGS

  1. 2018: ISO 9001:2015 Auditor Certificate–Kenya Bureau of Standards.
  2. 2019: Certificate in University Graduate Tracer Studies–Organized by Kabarak university.
  3. 2019-2020: Training on the use of Moodle and ZOOM for online and blended teaching–Kabarak University Online since 2020.
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
  1. 2019—Present: Columnist with The Standard Newspaper, on Fridays; Pg. 16.
  2. 2019—Present: Editor and reviewer, Kabarak University Journal of Research and Innovations.
  3. 2019– Present: Editor and Reviewer: Athens Journal of Mass Media and Communications, a peer-reviewed academic journal published by the Athens Institute for Education and Research.
  4. 2019– Present: Editor and reviewer for the Ghana Journal of Linguistics; a double-blind peer-reviewed scholarly journal published by the Linguistics Association of Ghana.
  5. 2018—Present: Coordinator, Convener, and Judge:  School of education staff research and publications; conference papers reviewer.
  6. 2018— Present: Director and Managing Editor, Editon Consortium Publishing Journals.

 

FIELDS OF SPECIALIZATION

Communication and Media.

[Media and Society (Mediatized Ethnic Relations); Political Communication (Media and Electoral Democracy, Mediatized Political Formations); News Media and Economic Governance (Pan Africanist Perspective); Artificial Intelligence and Media Industry].

WORK EXPERIENCE
  • July 2022 – Present: Senior Lecturer—Communication and Media, Kabarak University
  • June 2022– Present: Programme leader—Bachelor of Mass Communication, Department of Mass Communication, Kabarak University
  • November 2019– Present: Columnist–Standard Newspaper.
  • 2016– June 2022: Lecturer in the Department of Mass Communication, Kabarak University.
  • 2018– Present: Internal Auditor: ISO 9001:2015; Kabarak University.
  • 2017—Present: Member of Graduation and Publicity Committee, Kabarak University.
  • Jan 2015 – Aug. 2016: Part-time Lecturer, Communication & Media; Egerton University, Kenya.
  • 2014 – Aug. 2016: Part-time Lecturer, Journalism and Mass Communication; St Paul’s University, Nakuru campus.
  • May 2013 – Dec 2015: Part-time faculty, Department of Journalism and Mass Communication; Mount Kenya University, Nakuru Campus.
  • Sep 2014 – Dec 2014: Part-time Lecturer, Department of Journalism and Mass Communication; Multimedia University College, Nairobi.
  • 2013: Research Assistant, KARI, University of Nairobi & the Ministry of Agriculture.
  • 2010: Presiding Officer with Interim Independent Electoral Commission (IIEC) Kenya.
  • 2010: Head Registration Clerk with IIEC; Gachoka Constituency.

 

KEY PROJECTS

 1). 2023: Publication—The rise of Artificial intelligence (AI)-powered language models and adaptability in the media value chain in Kenya—Ongoing

2). 2022-2023: Book—Political Economy of Reporting Presidential Politics: Towards Ethnopolitical Oligarchy Construction in Kenya, Published by Utafiti Foundation. ISBN: 978-9966-26-276-9.  —Completed

3). 2022: Book Chapter— African Media Space and Globalization, “Kenyan Media Industry: Digitize or Disappear!” Springer—Completed

 

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Media and Society (Mediatized Ethnic Relations); Political Communication (Media and Electoral Democracy, Mediatized Political Formations); News Media and Economic Governance (Pan Africanist Perspective).

LIST OF PUBLICATIONS

PUBLISHED BOOKS

1). 2023: Michael Ndonye (2023). Political Economy of Reporting Presidential Election: Towards Ethnopolitical Oligarchy Construction in Kenya. Utafiti Foundation. ISBN: 978-9966-26-276-9. 

2). 2019: Michael Ndonye (2019). Media, Stand-Up Comedy and Representation: Problematising The Laugh Industry In Kenya. Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing - Amazon KDP. ISBN-13: 978-1072749011. https://www.amazon.com/MEDIA-STAND-UP-COMEDY-REPRESENTATION-PROBLEMATISING/dp/1072749017

 

PUBLISHED BOOK CHAPTERS

1). 2023: Michael Ndonye & Mellitus Wanyama (2023). “Kenyan Media Industry: Digitize or Disappear! (Chapter 2)” in African Media Space and Globalization. In Unwana Samuel Akpan (Eds) (2023): African Media Space and Globalization. Springer Nature. 978-3-031-35059-7. https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/african-media-space-and-globalization-unwana-samuel-akpan/1143464475?ean=9783031350597

2). 2018: Khaemba Josephine Mulindi, Michael Ndonye (2018). Ideological undertones in mediatized comedy in the Churchill Show of Kenya. In ByIgnatiusChukwumah, B. (2018). Joke-Performance in Africa Mode, Media and Meaning (pp.267-288). Routledge. https://www.routledge.com/Joke-Performance-in-Africa-Mode-Media-and-Meaning/Chukwumah/p/book/9780367593605

 

 SELECTED JOURNAL ARTICLES

  1. Otieno Otieno, M. & Ndonye, M. (2022). Theoretical analysis of peace journalism and reporting during electioneering period in Kenya. Journal of Media and Communication, 1(1), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.51317/ecjmcs.v4i1.39
  2. Mbogho, W., Ndonye, M. & Ogola, J. O. (2021). Ideological Framing of Somali Refugees’ Repatriation in the News Reports in Kenya. Editon Cons. J. Media Commun. Stud., 3(1), 205-211. https://doi.org/10.51317/ecjmcs.v3i1.270   
  3. Michael Ndonye (2020). Media, Elections, and Ethnopolitics in Kenya: In the 2017 Elections Reportage, Ethnicity still Mattered. Athens Journal of Mass Media and Communications, 7, 1-14 https://doi.org/10.30958/ajmmc.X-Y-Z
  4. Otieno, M, O. & Ndonye Michael (2020). Problematising News Media Ownership Patterns in Kenya: Who controls Media Industry in the Global South? Editon Cons. J. Media Commun. Stud., 2(1), 75-83. https://doi.org/10.51317/ecjmcs.v2i1.134
  5. Michael Ndonye; Yieke, F., Ndoro, P. (2019). Emergence of Ethnopolitical Journalism in Kenya: Lessons from the 2017 Televised Political Analyses Shows. Editon. Cons. j. Media Commun. Stud., 1(1), 36-51. https://doi.org/10.51317/ecjmcs.v1i1.52
  6. Michael Ndonye. (2019). Mass-Mediated Feminist Scholarship Failure in Africa: NormalizedBody-Objectification as Artificial Intelligence (AI).Editon. Cons. J. Media Commun. Stud. 1(1), 1-8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.51317/ecjmcs.v1i1.47
  7. Michael Ndonye; Ndoro, P., Yieke, F. (2019). Mediatized Horserace Political Analyses: Interrogating the 2017 Elections Political Propaganda in Kenya. Coretrain Journal of Languages, Humanities, Social Sciences and Education, 1 (2), 86-96.
  8. Michael Ndonye; Vivian Nyaata (2017). Sources of Kenyan Bill of Rights (Art. 32-34) and Media advocacy for the Rights and Freedoms Guaranteed in the Constitution; Sch. Bull.; Vol-3, Iss-10 (Oct 2017):569-575.
  9. Mathews A. Shirima; Michael Ndonye (2017). Mapping out Media-Politics Relationship in Kenya: Comparing the Mwai Kibaki-Uhuru Kenyatta Regimes' Media ownership, Usage and Control. Sch. Bull.; Vol-3, Iss-4 (Apr 2017), 164-169.
  10. Ndonye, M. M. & Ogola, J. O. (2015). Mediatised Governance: Analysis of the 2013 Presidential Debate in Kenya. Scholars Journal of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, 3(4B), 915-922.
  11. Ndonye Michael, Yieke Felicia; Ogola James (2015). Ethnicity as Discursive Construct in Kenyan Televised Comedy: Humorous Harm? The Journal of Pan African Studies, 8(3), 44-60
  12. Ndonye, Michael, Bartoo, Phylis, Khaemba Josephine (2015). The Tyranny of Televised Comedy: Modeling Ethnic Relation through ‘Churchill Live Show’ in Kenya. Scholars. Journal of Arts Humanit. Soc. Sci.; 3(3A):605-611
  13. Michael M. Ndonye, Emily M. Nyangena (2014). Socialising Online Ethnic Hegemony: Kenyan’s Responses to Political Blog Posts before and after 2013 Elections. Sch. J. Arts Humanit. Soc. Sci., 2(5C), 727-734
  14. Mbatia B. Kinyanjui, Julia, Ndonye M. Michael (2014). The Future of Converged Media in Kenya. Sch. J. Arts Humanit. Soc. Sci., 2(5B):713-716
  15. Michael M. Ndonye, Gladys Kemunto Orina-Abuga & Sylvia M. Masese (July 2014). “Deconstructing Media and Communication Theories: The Advent of the New Media”. International Journal of Marketing and Technology, 4(7), 164-175
  16. Michael M. Ndonye (June 2014). “Social Media, Ethnic hatred and Peace Journalism: Case of Twitter and FaceBook use in Kenya.” International Journal of Physical and Social Sciences, 4(6), 437-450
  17. Michael M. Ndonye & WendoNabea (2014). Media as Opium of Masses: Coverage of the 2013 General Elections in Kenya. Kenya Studies Review, 7 (2), 103-115
  18. Michael M. Ndonye & Vicky Khasandi-Telewa (2013). “The future of print journalism: Internet technology and the 21st Century Newspaper in Kenya.” International Journal of Research in Social Sciences, 3 (3), 96-105

 

CONFERENCES & INVITED PRESENTATIONS

SELECTED CONFERENCES, SEMINARS & WORKSHOPS.

  1. International Research Conference On Media And Communication In The 21st Century Governance – 2020: Kabarak University  – Presented a Paper.
  2. The Kabarak University 8th International Research Conference 2019 – Presented a paper.
  3. The 2017 Codesria Governance Institute held in Dakar, Senegal; Directed by Prof. Horace Campbell from Syracuse University; held between 4th and 15thSeptember 2017 – Presented a proposal. Trained on Pan Africanist approach to media research.
  4. 2022—Facilitator: Institute of postgraduate studies, Kabarak University; Orientation And Research Training For Postgraduate Students.
  5. 2020—Facilitator: Academic Integrity, APA 7th edition Manual, and Publishing: Office of the Vice Chancellor; ISO 9001: 2015 management representative.
  6. 2020—Facilitator: Setting quality objectives, article 6.2 (6.2.1, 6.2.2) of ISO 9001: 2015.
  7. Institute of postgraduate studies and the editorial and publication committee research training workshop for graduate students of 16th -18th September 2020.
  8. 2021—Facilitator: Facilitated on “Getting your paper published in a peer reviewed Journal”, Institute of postgraduate studies, Kabarak University; Orientation And Research Training For Postgraduate Students.
  9. 2021—Facilitator: Academic Integrity, APA 7th edition Manual, and Publishing. Office of the Vice Chancellor; ISO 9001: 2015 management representative and Customer satisfaction; article 9.1.2 & 9.1.3 of ISO 9001: 2015.

 

 

TEACHING AREAS

At Undergraduate level, I teach:

  1. Newsgathering, Writing & Reporting Techniques.
  2. Editorial and Opinion writing.
  3. Basics of Creative writing.
  4. Online/Digital Journalism.
  5. Innovative & Critical Thinking.
  6. Media Management.

 At Postgraduate level, I teach:

  1. Media and Electoral Politics.
  2. Peace Journalism—Theory and Practice.
  3. Political Economy of Media and Communication.
  4. Media Research Methods.
  5. Political Journalism— News, Research & Analysis.
  6. News Media Content Analysis.

 

CURRICULA DEVELOPMENT [KABU]

  1. Bachelor of Mass Communication— Approved by CUE.
  2. Postgraduate Diploma in Mass Communication— Approved by senate, pending CUE approval.
  3. Diploma in Mass Communication— Approved by senate.
  4. Diploma in Electronic Media— Approved by senate.
  5. Certificate in journalism and mass Communication— Approved by Senate.

 

POSTGRADUATE SUPERVISION
Masters Level:

 1. Wakio Rose Alexandra Mbogho: Egerton University, Kenya—Title of the Thesis: An analysis of the framing of arguments about the repatriation of the Somali refugees in the Kenyan and international press (Completed).

2. Emmanuel William Milanzi: Kabarak University, Kenya—Title of the Thesis: Analysis of Music Education Policies in Malawi: Processes, Challenges and Prospects (Ongoing).

PhD Level:

 1. Mohamed Alio: Daystar University, Kenya—Title of the Thesis: Are terrorist organizations creators or inheritors of their media narratives? A case study of Somalia based Alshabab terror group(Ongoing).

2. Stellah N. Matofari: Laikipia University, Kenya— Title of the Thesis: The role of investigative journalism in the political and economic environment in Kenya (Ongoing).

3. Yobesh Maaga Onwong’a: Laikipia University, Kenya—Title of the Thesis: Adoption of radio podcasting in Kenya: evolution, innovation and connection(Ongoing).

 

 

MEMBERSHIP / ASSOCIATION
  1.  Accredited Media Trainer: Media Council of Kenya: Membership number: MCK040020.
  2. Member: Kenya University Quality Assurance Network.
  3. Member: Embu County Professionals Development Associaeion (ECPDA).
  4. Member: East Africa Communications Association [EACA].

 

Our Moral Code

As members of Kabarak University family, we purpose at all times and in all places, to set apart in one’s heart, Jesus as Lord. (1 Peter 3:15)