Journalists Face Growing Threats Ahead of 2027 Election, Media Stakeholders Warn.
MCK Chief Executive Officer David Omwoyo during the national dialogue on journalists’ safety and protection mechanisms held in Nairobi.
Media stakeholders have called for urgent legal reforms and stronger protection mechanisms for journalists as threats, intimidation and economic hardship mount ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The call was made in Nairobi during a national dialogue convened by the Media Council of Kenya (MCK) to mark the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists.
Held under the theme “Enhancing Journalists’ Safety and Protection Mechanisms ahead of the 2027 General Election,” the forum brought together government representatives, media stakeholders and human rights defenders to examine threats to press freedom.
MCK Chief Executive Officer David Omwoyo said verbal attacks and threats against journalists by people in positions of power were contributing to a hostile environment that emboldens others to target media professionals warning that leaders who publicly threaten or discredit journalists should be held accountable.
Omwoyo cautioned that an independent press was essential in protecting the public from misinformation and disinformation adding that driving journalists out of their roles would create an information vacuum.
According to MCK Manager for Press Freedom and Advocacy Rebecca Mutiso, the Council documented 47 cases of threats and attacks against media workers between July and September 2026. The cases included 34 assaults, five threats, two arrests, two incidents of intimidation and abduction and one case of harassment and surveillance.
Mutiso named police officers and political goons as the leading perpetrators, raising concerns about the safety of journalists covering political activities and public events as the country heads to the polls.
Representing UNESCO, consultant Lea Simonini said impunity for crimes against journalists remained a global concern, with nearly nine in every 10 such crimes going unpunished. She warned that Artificial Intelligence was increasing the speed and sophistication of misinformation during election periods through manipulated speech and deepfakes and noted that women journalists remained vulnerable to online harassment.
Stakeholders also said outdated laws continued to undermine constitutional guarantees of media freedom and access to information. They identified at least 21 restrictive statutes including the Official Secrets Act, the National Intelligence Service Act, the Kenya Defence Forces Act and the National Police Service Act.
According to the stakeholders, the laws contain provisions that could facilitate surveillance, restrict access to information and penalise public officers who disclose information. The forum called for a review of the statutes to align them with Articles 33, 34 and 35 of the Constitution.
Secretary for Information and Broadcasting at the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy, Temesi Mukani assured of the government’s commitment to press freedom and to working with industry stakeholders to address violations. He urged media players to make use of emerging policy frameworks including the Access to Information Policy to strengthen the sector.
The forum also drew attention to the economic and mental well-being of journalists. Kenya Editors Guild (KEG) President Zubeidah Kananu cited a joint MCK-KEG survey titled “Behind the Byline,” which found that 52 per cent of journalists surveyed earned less than Sh50,000 a month, while only 45 per cent were in permanent employment. The survey further found that 83 per cent of respondents exhibited depressive symptoms.
Kananu challenged media owners to improve working conditions through timely salaries, medical insurance and mental health support saying financially vulnerable and exhausted reporters could not be expected to withstand the pressures of election coverage.
MCK Board Member Tabitha Mutemi said journalists’ safety was central to democratic governance and electoral integrity. She called for a national review of existing protection mechanisms to address emerging threats, including digital insecurity and gender-based violence while strengthening coordination among law enforcement agencies, the judiciary and media institutions.
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions also pledged continued action against those involved in attacks on journalists. Senior Deputy Director Jacinta Nyamosi, representing DPP Renson Mulele Ingonga said no journalist should be assaulted, threatened or obstructed while carrying out legitimate professional duties.
Nyamosi cited the March 2024 sentencing of three people to 15 years in prison each for assaulting a Nation correspondent and said prosecutions were ongoing over attacks on journalists during recent public demonstrations.
- Through the dialogue, the stakeholders called for coordinated action by government agencies, media owners, security institutions and the judiciary to end impunity and ensure journalists have the legal, institutional and economic support to work safely.
