Media stakeholders have been urged to strengthen safeguards for journalists as concerns grow over rising corruption and the risks faced by reporters who expose wrongdoing in public institutions.
David Omwoyo has called for stronger protection and better support systems for journalists, saying corruption often survives by hiding from public view and tends to target those who try to expose it.
Speaking during the Anti-Corruption Workshop for Media Practitioners on Tuesday, he said investigative journalists remain key in exposing misconduct but continue to face pressure and lack adequate protection in their work.
“Corruption thrives in darkness, and the perpetrators of corruption hurt the person who comes with a torch in the night, because that darkness disappears,” he said.
He added that journalists collectively reach millions of people across the country and play a key role in ensuring accountability within public and private institutions, stressing the need for closer cooperation between media and oversight bodies.
“We share complementary roles… we have a primary role to protect the public,” he said.
Omwoyo raised concern over what he described as a “crisis of deep stories,” saying many important investigative reports are not fully developed due to limited support for watchdog journalism.
He urged institutions not only to expect professionalism from journalists but also to guarantee their safety and improve access to information, which he said is critical for accountability reporting.
“We expect them to be ethical and professional, but we must protect them… we need to at least proactively provide them with information,” he added.
He further proposed structured support systems, including training and possible funding for investigative reporting, especially for journalists handling complex corruption investigations.
At the same event, Abdi Mohamud acknowledged growing collaboration between the anti-corruption body and investigative journalists but warned that corruption cases remain high despite ongoing efforts.
“In the last three years… we find that corruption does not reduce, it increases,” Mohamud said, while questioning whether current approaches are producing the desired results despite more convictions and recovery of assets.
He also pointed to a communication gap between institutions and the public, saying many citizens are still not aware of the work being done to fight corruption.
“How comes nobody is aware of what you are doing?… we are really trying,” he said.
Mohamud further suggested reforms aimed at reducing opportunities for bribery, including simplifying enforcement systems and allowing offenders to pay fines digitally to reduce direct contact that can enable corruption.
Both leaders emphasized the need for stronger cooperation between institutions, openness in governance, and better support for journalists, warning that without these measures, efforts to fight corruption may continue to face major setbacks.