Nairobi:The Media Council of Kenya (MCK) has emphasized the need for collaboration with the National Police Service to enhance the protection of journalists during the electioneering period leading up to the 2027 polls. This initiative aims to safeguard media professionals from threats and attacks while covering campaigns, demonstrations, and other election-related events.
According to Kenya News Agency, MCK Chair Maina Muiruri highlighted the various dangers journalists face, including threats, intimidation, assault, equipment damage, online harassment, and obstruction. He stressed that these challenges undermine press freedom and restrict public access to essential electoral information. Muiruri called for clear procedures for security agencies to respond to incidents involving journalists and proposed that police designate contact persons for election-related issues.
Muiruri outlined several measures the MCK is undertaking, including organizing media-security dialogues to foster trust and professional relations between journalists and security personnel. The council is also working on sensitizing police officers about the role of journalists and the legal protections afforded to media freedom, as well as improving investigations into reported incidents.
Furthermore, Muiruri appealed to the Senate for adequate funding, staffing, and technical capacity to enhance media monitoring, digital verification, and enforcement of professional standards. He warned of the risks posed by artificial intelligence, misinformation, and manipulated digital content, which could complicate election reporting and endanger journalists.
In addition to these efforts, MCK plans to collaborate with digital platforms to tackle issues such as impersonation and fabricated content. They are also advocating for public education and digital literacy programs to help citizens, especially young people, first-time voters, and rural communities, differentiate between verified and misleading information.
The MCK’s Press Freedom Violations Situation Report 2026 recorded 47 verified press freedom violations between January and March, with physical assaults comprising 67 percent of these cases. The report identified criminal gangs, political activists, and the police as the main perpetrators. Additionally, the Kenya Media Sector Working Group reported a decline in Kenya’s ranking on the Reporters Without Borders index from 69th in 2022 to 117th in 2025, raising concerns over the erosion of constitutionally guaranteed press freedoms.
