The Media Council of Kenya (MCK) have today unveiled a revised election reporting guidelines ahead of the 2022 general elections.
The guidelines that were first developed in 2013 and reviewed in 2017 have been updated to reflect critical issues in the prevailing media environment and landscape.
Speaking in Kisumu during the event, MCK Chief Executive Officer (CEO) David Omwoyo observed that adequate empowerment and training of the media fraternity is key in ensuring journalists cover the electioneering process professionally.
“I urged journalists to adhere to stipulated election reporting guidelines and uphold professionalism,” he said.
Government Spokesman Colonel (Rtd) Cyrus Oguna urged journalists to report objectively during elections to enable consumption of accurate information among political players and the electorate hence mitigating potential conflicts.
“This country belongs to all of us, including the media and we should guard the peace we enjoy at all times,” Oguna said as he urged the media to remain responsible as they exercised their patriotic role.
A technical committee comprising of representatives from media houses, renowned editors, independent practitioners and media professional bodies developed the new guidelines that will be applied to ensure the forthcoming general elections are free, fair and peaceful.
The new guidelines will be applied to ensure the forthcoming general elections are free, fair and peaceful.
Those present were, MCK Chairman Maina Muiruri, Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ) Secretary General Erick Oduor, representatives from political parties and The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
