The European Union has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Kenya’s media ahead of the 2027 General Election, while raising concerns over election-related violence, impunity and the growing threat of foreign interference and online disinformation.

Speaking during a stakeholders’ meeting on journalists’ safety and the electoral environment in Nairobi, Head of Governance, Digital and Macroeconomics at the Delegation of the European Union to Kenya, Matthew Brooke, said the media remains a critical partner in safeguarding democracy despite an increasingly challenging global environment.

“The geopolitics is not in our favour. There are all sorts of threats,” Brooke said. “As the European Union, we recognise the important work that the Kenya Correspondents Association is doing. There is concern about violence during elections and the culture of impunity, and the media plays a central role. That is why we are here.”

He noted that the EU was particularly concerned about foreign interference and manipulation of information, especially through online platforms, saying the trend poses a significant threat to democratic processes.

“We are truly committed to supporting responsible media. The media also needs to act responsibly,” he said. “We are shaping up our electoral support programmes, and the media will be one of the beneficiaries. We will work closely with the media because we rely upon journalists to improve our understanding of what is happening in the country.”

Also speaking at the meeting, French Embassy in Kenya Communications Director Romain France Boyer described the discussions as timely, noting that the country is now one year away from the General Election.

“This is a timely discussion since we have one year to the election. Kenya has a very active media and civic space,” said Boyer.

Meanwhile, Kenya Correspondents Association Director of Programmes William Janak urged journalists to prioritise their safety as political activities intensify across the country.

“There is a need for journalists to stay vigilant and consider their safety as we head to the General Election,” Janak said. “The country has already started experiencing cases of attacks, which is not good. Journalists need a free and secure environment to carry out their work.”

He further called for increased investment in safety training for journalists to equip them with the skills needed to navigate the increasingly complex electoral environment.

“We need journalists to undergo safety training and remain vigilant throughout the election period,” he added.

The meeting, organised by the Kenya Correspondents Association (KCA), brought together stakeholders from the diplomatic community, government, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), media organisations and development partners to assess the current electoral environment, discuss emerging risks facing journalists, and explore strategies to promote press freedom, journalists’ safety and responsible reporting ahead of Kenya’s 2027 General Election. The forum also provided an opportunity for participants to deliberate on measures aimed at ensuring a safe and enabling environment for the media as the country prepares for the polls.