Obuya Simeon Mabea2026-05-212026-05-212024Obuya, S. M. (2024). Business journalism in Kenyan newspapers: The practice and its influence on economic decisions (Master's thesis, Chuka University).https://repository.chuka.ac.ke/handle/123456789/22673Thesis Submitted to the Graduate School in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement for the Award of the Degree of Master of Art in Journalism and Mass Communication of Chuka University Supervisors:Dr. Augustus Onchari Nyakundi and Dr. Henry Nkoru NabeaBusiness journalism has evolved into a complex field characterized by specialization and digitization. Among these new realities are the use of multimedia, reliance on data and statistics, and the application of artificial intelligence in reporting. Following a literature review, the researcher found that existing studies on business journalism were predominantly of European criticisms and largely focused on the practitioners’ shortcomings in analytical reporting, informing the public, and providing warnings of impending dangers. There was little research available in the scholarly literature on Kenya's business journalism landscape. This research sought to address this gap by analyzing the practice of business journalism in Kenyan newspapers and its influence on the economic decisions of individuals and organizations. Specifically, the study examined the nature of business journalism in Kenyan newspapers, emerging trends characteristic of business journalism in Kenyan newspapers, and the influence of business journalism in Kenyan newspapers on economic decisions. The study was framed by agenda-setting theory. A mixed methods design was adopted, with two sets of stratified samples from a population encompassing: newspaper issues from Kenya's leading newspapers (the Business Daily, the Daily Nation, and The Standard), and research participants which included business journalists from the three newspapers and middle-level staff members from the Kenya Association of Manufacturers and the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Document analysis and questionnaires were used to collect data from newspapers and participants. The researcher used reflexive thematic content analysis and descriptive statistics to interpret data. The research findings revealed that business journalism in Kenyan newspapers was characterized by a commitment to detailed and factual reporting, often relying on authoritative sources such as the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics and World Bank data to enhance credibility. Despite resource constraints and competition, the newspapers maintained high standards of news sourcing and clarity, utilizing simplified language and visual aids to make complex economic topics understandable. The study identified several emerging trends such as digital integration, data-driven journalism, and AI adoption, that were reshaping the landscape of business journalism in Kenya. These trends necessitated journalists to be equipped with digital skills and multimedia storytelling for their effectiveness. Furthermore, the research underscored how comprehensive coverage of market trends, policy changes, and corporate developments informed and influenced public opinion and consumer behaviour. These findings reinforced the agendasetting theory, highlighting the media's power in setting the agenda for public discourse and policy-making, thereby underscoring the critical role of business journalism in Kenya's economic landscape. These findings could benefit journalists, financial news audiences, students, and other stakeholders locally and globally.enBusiness journalismeconomic decisionsagenda-setting theoryKenyan newspapersdigital journalismdata-driven reportingmedia influence.Thesis