The media will face growing pressure to separate facts from falsehoods as Kenya heads towards the 2027 General Election, with the Media Council of Kenya calling on journalists to resist rumours, political propaganda and content that could fuel divisions.
MCK chief executive David Omwoyo said journalists must remain accurate, professional and guided by ethical standards as political activity increases, warning that careless reporting could damage public confidence in the media and affect peaceful democratic participation.
Speaking during an engagement with journalists in Mombasa, Omwoyo said the media had a responsibility to give voters reliable information and help them make informed decisions as the country moves closer to the election.
He cautioned journalists against publishing information that has not been verified or using their platforms to promote misinformation, disinformation, incitement and narratives likely to worsen political or social divisions.
“Election reporting must be conflict-sensitive. The information we provide must be accurate and must not cause harm. Journalists should not provide a platform for disunity,” Omwoyo stated.
He asked journalists to give greater attention to issues affecting voters instead of rumours, gossip and politically charged narratives.
“Journalists have a duty to serve and be professional. We must avoid gossip and ensure that journalism adds value to society.”
The council’s call comes at a time when political information is increasingly shared through social media and other digital platforms, creating new challenges for journalists and news organisations preparing to cover the 2027 polls.
Artificial intelligence is expected to add another layer to the challenge, with the technology capable of producing false text, images and videos quickly. MCK has therefore warned that journalists and newsrooms will need to be more careful when checking material before using it in news reports.
The council has been raising concerns about misinformation and rumours in election coverage for years.
During preparations for the 2022 General Election, MCK identified verification and fact-checking as important responsibilities for journalists covering political campaigns.
Its monitoring of the 2022 campaign showed an overall improvement in compliance with journalistic ethics compared with the 2017 election period. Despite the improvement, the council raised concerns about political reporting and the spread of misinformation and disinformation through social media.
Radio made up the largest share of political coverage monitored by the council at 62%, while television accounted for 27% and print media 11%.
MCK has moved early to prepare the industry for the next election.
In August, the council launched its Guidelines for Election Coverage 2027, together with its Strategic Plan for 2026-2030 and a media hub in Nakuru.
The election guidelines are aimed at helping journalists and media organisations handle political coverage in a manner that is accurate, fair and responsible.
Omwoyo said the council would follow up the launch with training to help journalists understand and apply the new guidelines in their daily work.
“MCK will undertake training for journalists on the newly launched election reporting guidelines to ensure they are well equipped to report accurately, responsibly and in a conflict-sensitive manner, while avoiding misinformation, disinformation and incitement.”
The national training programme is expected to reach more than 4,000 media practitioners before the 2027 election.
Recent training sessions have placed emphasis on fairness, verification, reporting on issues rather than personalities, digital resilience and maintaining public confidence in the media.
MCK is also looking beyond the quality of news coverage to the conditions under which journalists work.
Omwoyo said the council was exploring ways of supporting independent journalists and others who do not have permanent newsroom facilities by providing free working spaces.
The proposed spaces would offer journalists workstations for producing news, creating digital content and working with other media professionals.
“With no working space for journalists, your safety becomes very critical,” he said.
The proposal comes as the media industry undergoes changes, including the closure of some traditional newsroom facilities.
MCK has previously listed journalist safety, limited resources and the changing digital media environment among the issues that could affect election coverage.
During the preparations for the 2022 polls, the council also backed efforts to provide working spaces for journalists and improve their safety and protection.
Omwoyo further pointed to cooperation between MCK and the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation, saying more space had been secured at the public broadcaster’s premises to host a media hub that is currently operating elsewhere.
The council’s early preparations come with increasing focus on the role of information in elections, as voters rely on news organisations and digital platforms to understand political developments and assess competing claims.
MCK is now calling on newsrooms to strengthen their systems before the campaign period gathers momentum, with journalists expected to verify information, maintain balance and give prominence to issues affecting voters.
The council says the demand to publish news quickly should not come at the expense of accuracy, public interest or the safety of democratic participation.
As the 2027 election approaches, MCK wants journalists to remain professional and responsible while ensuring their reporting does not become a source of misinformation, political division or public harm.