MCK Backs Journalists Seeking Political Office Ahead of 2027 General Election

Media Council of Kenya Chief Executive Officer David Omwoyo addresses the media in Nakuru. The Council has announced plans to support journalists seeking elective positions while introducing measures to safeguard journalistic integrity ahead of the 2027 General Election.

The Media Council of Kenya has welcomed and encouraged journalists, editors, and other media practitioners interested in elective politics to contest for various positions in the 2027 General Election while maintaining strict standards to protect the credibility of journalism.

In a statement released on Friday, the Council said media professionals have valuable skills and experience that can contribute to national leadership and governance. However, it noted that journalists occupy a unique position in society because they influence public opinion through the platforms they use to inform citizens.

The Council said the participation of media practitioners in politics should be managed carefully to prevent conflicts of interest and ensure fair competition among all candidates.

According to the statement, professionals from different sectors including law, engineering, and medicine have historically contributed to leadership and governance, and journalists should also have an opportunity to participate in the country’s democratic processes.

“The Council believes that in the same way the legislative and executive arms of governance benefit from the diverse expertise from professionals from other sectors including law, engineering, and medicine, national leadership thrives on multi sectoral representation,” the statement said.

The Council noted that while media professionals have every democratic right to seek elective office, special safeguards are necessary because of the influence journalists have through newsrooms, radio stations, television channels, and digital media platforms.

It explained that unlike other professionals, journalists have direct access to audiences and are involved in shaping public conversations and political discourse. As a result, additional measures are needed to ensure that media platforms are not used to give unfair advantages to candidates with a journalism background.

To support media practitioners seeking political office, the Media Council of Kenya announced plans to establish a Special Governance Support Programme. The initiative is expected to equip aspiring political leaders from the media industry with leadership, governance, and policy making skills required to run effective campaigns and serve in public office.

The Council has also invited journalists and media practitioners intending to contest elective positions in 2027 to formally register their intentions through the Council.

At the same time, the regulator emphasized that the principles of fairness, balance, accuracy, and objectivity must remain at the center of journalism throughout the electoral period.

The Council warned that public trust in the media could be undermined if journalists who intend to seek political office continue to use their professional positions to influence voters or gain political mileage.

“The credibility and trust of the media industry must be aggressively protected to maintain public trust during the electoral cycle,” the Council said.

To address potential concerns, the Council revealed that it is finalising comprehensive guidelines on media conduct and election reporting ahead of the 2027 polls.

The proposed guidelines are expected to establish clear procedures for journalists who declare political ambitions and will set standards for media houses during the election period.

Among the measures being considered are mandatory resignation timelines that will require political aspirants to leave active newsroom duties and professional media practice within a specified period before the elections.

The guidelines will also include suspension protocols for journalists who declare political intentions. Under the proposed framework, affected individuals will immediately stop hosting programmes, anchoring broadcasts, or reporting news once they publicly announce their political ambitions.

The Council said these measures are intended to protect the integrity of news coverage and prevent situations where aspiring politicians use their media visibility to gain an advantage over competitors.

In addition, media houses will be required to uphold fairness in political reporting by ensuring equal and balanced coverage for all candidates regardless of their professional background.

The regulator said news organisations must not provide undue preference to former journalists seeking elective office and should instead maintain professional standards that guarantee equal treatment of all political contestants.

The Council further announced that it will convene a validation workshop bringing together editorial leaders from across the media industry within the next 14 days.

The forum will review and refine the proposed guidelines before they are officially adopted.

According to the Council, the final framework will be launched and gazetted within the next 30 days to allow sufficient time for implementation before the election season gains momentum.

The move comes as political activities continue to intensify across the country ahead of the 2027 General Election, with many professionals from different sectors expressing interest in elective leadership positions.

The Media Council of Kenya maintained that the transition of journalists into politics should be transparent, ethical, and accountable, adding that safeguarding public confidence in the media remains a top priority.

“The MCK remains committed to fostering a vibrant democracy where media professionals can transition into public leadership transparently, ethically, and without compromising the hard earned credibility of the Kenyan media,” said MCK Chief Executive Officer and Secretary to the Council David Omwoyo.

The Council expressed confidence that the planned measures will help strike a balance between protecting the democratic rights of media practitioners and preserving the independence, fairness, and credibility of Kenya’s media industry as the country prepares for the 2027 General Election.