The Media Council of Kenya is constituting a technical committee to review the election reporting guidelines in preparation for the 2022 polls, the guidelines were last reviewed in 2017.

The committee will draw its membership from the media industry and will also include various groups and media associations in Kenya.

“Media stakeholders have a civic duty to play to ensure a credible, peaceful, and transparent national elections,” MCK Chairman Mr Maina Muiruri told the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission(IEBC) / media sector consultative meeting in Mombasa today.

He added that the Council will spearhead collaboration with the media to ensure they play their civic role to educate Kenyans on the importance of participating and electing responsible leaders, and their watchdog role to ensure transparency in electoral processes.

The Chairman added that the Media Council of Kenya will work with stakeholders in the media sector to conduct County-based journalists’ training on election reporting besides reviewing the Safety and Protection Mechanism for journalists which will be signed by the Media Owners and Editors as a commitment to ensure safety of journalists.

“The Council will work with the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission(IEBC) to accredit journalists for election reporting and at media centres that the Media Council of Kenya will set up across the country for journalists to work from during the election period”, said Mr Maina Muiruri.

The MCK Chairman said that the Media Council of Kenya will also enter into partnerships to offer grants for journalists to write and produce media content related to elections.

“We will also enhance our Media Monitoring during the electioneering period to look out against hate speech, fake news and other negative trends”, he said.

The Media Council of Kenya is mandated to promote media freedom and advocate for freedom of expression by empowering the media to serve as a watchdog for democratic governance, justice and the rule of law.