Nairobi: The Media Council of Kenya (MCK) has launched an intensive training programme for journalists in the Coast region, part of a national drive to prepare 4,000 media practitioners for coverage of the 2027 General Election.
According to Kenya News Agency, the training, held for staff of the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC), Kenya News Agency (KNA), and Pwani FM in Mombasa, followed the launch that was held last week in Nakuru of the Elections Reporting Guidelines 2027, which drew more than 180 participants from across the media industry.
MCK Director for Media Training and Development, Victor Bwire, who led the session, said the training would run for close to a year ahead of the polls and would reach journalists in counties and media houses nationwide. He noted that KBC’s Nairobi newsroom had already undergone two rounds of training this year, focusing on defamation, safety, and election reporting.
Bwire urged journalists to embrace fairness in covering candidates, emphasizing that broadcast frequencies are a national resource that must serve all contestants equally. He highlighted the impact of digital and social media platforms on how Kenyans consume election news, with many people now following campaigns on platforms such as Facebook and TikTok.
Bwire cautioned journalists to verify information generated by Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools before publishing and to prioritize conflict-sensitive and gender-sensitive reporting. He warned against relying solely on victims’ accounts in disputes and against publishing information likely to cause disproportionate harm to candidates or their families.
He further stressed the importance of journalists prioritizing their safety while covering campaign events, advising them not to risk their lives for a story or photograph. He revealed that MCK was in discussions with KBC management to establish a media hub in Mombasa to support journalists working remotely, similar to existing hubs in Kisumu, Kisii, Siaya, Malindi, Nakuru, and Eldoret.
MCK Mombasa Regional Coordinator Maureen Mudi stated that the council was monitoring coverage patterns to identify journalists showing bias toward particular politicians. She referenced past incidents as examples of lapses that undermine public trust in the profession and urged journalists to maintain ethical and professional standards in their work.
KBC Controller of Programmes for the Coast Region, Joseph Cheruiyot, encouraged trained journalists to share their knowledge with colleagues who missed the session. He highlighted the rising polarisation in political coverage and the need for journalists to distinguish between the ‘state’ and the ‘government’ in their reporting.
Pwani FM presenter Clemence Mkanyika, known as DJ Tausi, expressed gratitude to MCK, KNA, and KBC for the engagement, noting its insightfulness and timeliness. Mkanyika appreciated the effort and support and hoped for more such engagements in the future.
