Kenyan newsrooms have been urged to begin laying the groundwork for the 2027 General Election well ahead of time, with the Media Council of Kenya warning that credible election reporting will depend on careful planning, adequate resources and stronger collaboration across the media industry.
Speaking during a local media interview on Tuesday, Victor Bwire, Director of Media Training and Development at the Media Council of Kenya (MCK), said election coverage demands far more than reporting events as they unfold. He said media organisations should now focus on strengthening their editorial teams, setting aside enough resources, building strategic partnerships and maintaining professional standards to ensure the public receives balanced, accurate and responsible information throughout the election period.
Bwire noted that elections place enormous editorial and operational demands on newsrooms, making early preparation necessary to ensure journalists are properly equipped from the campaign period through to voting day.
He challenged media managers to assess whether they have committed enough funding, assembled the required workforce and put in place practical plans that can sustain extensive election coverage over several months.
"We urge newsroom leaders to begin preparing for the elections expected in the next 12 months. The big question is: Have media houses set aside budgets for election coverage? Do they have enough staff capacity to handle the demands of the elections? Have they planned to recruit temporary staff to support their in-house teams? Have they made arrangements for joint productions and collaborations?"
Bwire said covering elections requires strong coordination within newsrooms, especially when planning political debates, interviews and live broadcasts involving candidates from different political parties.
He encouraged media houses to work closely with political leaders, political parties and the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to ensure programmes remain balanced, fair and inclusive.
"Elections come with a lot of pressure. You need teamwork and thorough due diligence when selecting guests for your programmes. Media houses should liaise with politicians, political parties, and the IEBC to ensure their shows are balanced, fair, and inclusive."
At the same time, Bwire reminded journalists that their duty is to serve the public through truthful and factual reporting, even when faced with pressure to publish information quickly during election campaigns.
He said the media should remain independent and guided by professional journalism standards rather than seeking approval from politicians or audiences.
"Media should not be apologetic; it is not a red-carpet job where journalists seek praise every day. The media must remain factual, truthful, sensitive, objective, and responsible. It should not simply push out information for the sake of it, but must provide accurate and meaningful reporting that serves the public interest."
Beyond editorial readiness, Bwire also encouraged media organisations to embrace partnerships that can reduce operational costs while improving access to election coverage.
He said sharing broadcasting equipment and production resources would allow several media houses to cover major political events more efficiently without compromising the quality of reporting.
"It is possible for one OB van to provide the broadcast feed while other media houses pick up the link and air the coverage. We need to change our mindset and move away from the ego-driven approach. Where possible, let us embrace collaboration and think in ways that make the media a stronger and more effective player."
Bwire said early planning, sufficient staffing and cooperation across the industry will help news organisations deliver fair, inclusive and reliable election coverage, while strengthening public confidence in the media as the country heads towards the 2027 General Election.