UDA Secretary General Hassan Omar urges journalists pursuing politics to leave newsrooms
UDA Secretary General Hassan Omar speaks during a press briefing, calling on journalists engaging in partisan politics to resign from newsroom roles and uphold professional journalism. Nairobi. July 3, 2026.
by Naif Rashid
The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Secretary General, Hassan Omar Hassan, has challenged journalists he accused of engaging in partisan politics to resign from their newsroom positions and seek political office instead, saying the media must remain independent and committed to professional journalism.
UDA Secretary General Hassan Omar has called on journalists whom he claims have become active participants in partisan politics to leave the newsroom and openly pursue political careers, arguing that political activism is incompatible with the principles of independent journalism.
Hassan maintained that while the party fully supports constitutional guarantees on media freedom, journalists and media institutions must exercise that freedom responsibly by adhering to the principles of accuracy, fairness, impartiality and editorial independence.
“A free press remains an indispensable pillar of democracy and public accountability. At the same time, media freedom carries an equally important responsibility to uphold the highest standards of accuracy, fairness, impartiality and professional ethics,” he said.
The Secretary General alleged that sections of the media had increasingly blurred the distinction between objective reporting and political advocacy, accusing some journalists of allowing personal opinions and political affiliations to influence news coverage.
“We invite those responsible to resign from their media roles and join the political arena if they wish to engage in politics. We are ready to square it out in a political duel rather than hiding behind the veil of the freedom of the media,” Hassan said.
He argued that journalism should remain grounded in verified facts and balanced reporting, warning that the publication of unverified claims, misleading headlines and opinion presented as fact risks weakening public confidence in the media and deepening national divisions.
According to Hassan, journalists have an ethical obligation to distinguish clearly between fact, opinion and speculation, while ensuring that information released to the public is credible and properly verified.
“The growing circulation of unverified claims, misleading headlines and opinion presented as fact risks eroding public trust, deepening polarisation and undermining informed national discourse,” he said.
Hassan further claimed that some media organisations had abandoned editorial neutrality in favour of political interests, naming Standard Group, Royal Media Services’ Citizen TV and Mediamax’s Kameme FM among outlets he alleged had become politically conflicted.
He also criticised some senior journalists and commentators, claiming they had crossed the line between journalism and political activism.
The UDA Secretary General urged media practitioners to recommit themselves to the principles that underpin credible journalism, including factual accuracy, editorial independence, fairness, accountability and respect for the public’s right to truthful information.
“They must refrain from airing propaganda, innuendos and unverified allegations disguised as news, particularly where such content serves improper purposes rather than the public interest,” he said.
Hassan further alleged that declining professional standards within sections of the media had weakened public confidence in journalism, accusing some practitioners of placing ratings, commercial interests and political narratives ahead of rigorous fact-checking.
He also criticised what he described as media coverage that undermines the work of security agencies, alleging that some outlets provide extensive publicity to individuals accused of breaking the law while portraying unlawful conduct in a favourable light.
Hassan cited the work of Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo and other security agencies, saying their efforts to maintain law and order should be supported through responsible reporting.
He urged Kenyans to strengthen media literacy by consulting multiple credible sources, verifying information before sharing it and relying on official public communication channels for confirmed information.
Despite the criticism, Hassan said UDA remains committed to constructive engagement with media organisations and reaffirmed the party’s support for press freedom.
“UDA remains committed to engaging all media houses professionally and transparently while advocating for a media landscape that serves the interests of truth, accountability, democracy and national development,” he said.
