Journalists planning to contest elective positions in the 2027 General Election will have to step away from key newsroom duties once they are officially declared candidates, under new guidelines issued by the Media Council of Kenya (MCK).
The guidelines require journalist candidates to temporarily stop on-air presentation, daily column writing, direct news gathering and editing until the electoral period is over.
MCK says the measures are designed to prevent conflicts of interest and protect the accuracy, fairness, impartiality and editorial independence of the media while allowing journalists to exercise their constitutional right to participate in politics.
The rules apply to journalists and media practitioners who declare an intention to contest an elective position, participate in a political party nomination process, become candidates or take up political roles that could create an actual or perceived conflict with their professional duties.
The Council has made it clear, however, that journalists will not be required to resign from their jobs or lose their employment benefits simply because they decide to pursue political office.
Instead, media organisations may reassign such journalists to duties that do not interfere with their political activities.
Under the guidelines, journalists must also disclose their political ambitions or candidature to their employers and the Media Council.
They will be expected to keep their professional responsibilities separate from their personal political interests and avoid situations that could compromise, or appear to compromise, their independence.
“A journalist or media practitioner participating in a political party nomination process shall take reasonable measures to ensure that the person’s political activities do not compromise the independence, fairness or impartiality of the person’s professional media functions,” MCK said.
Journalists will also be prohibited from using their professional status, media platforms, confidential information, access or other resources obtained through their work to promote their political campaigns or partisan interests.
A journalist who becomes a candidate will not be allowed to cover stories directly connected to their campaign or perform duties that could give them an unfair electoral advantage.
Media houses have also been directed to put measures in place to manage conflicts of interest when journalists enter politics. These could include changing their assignments, separating campaign activities from newsroom work and restricting the use of media resources for political purposes.
The guidelines further require media organisations to clearly identify political advertisements, maintain records of sponsored political content and establish systems to detect manipulated content, including deepfakes, cloned audio and other forms of digitally altered material.
Political advertisements involving journalist candidates must clearly state that they are paid political advertisements and must not use a media organisation’s branding in a way that suggests institutional endorsement.
Journalist candidates will also be barred from using official social media accounts or digital platforms belonging to their media organisations to campaign.
MCK has stressed that election coverage must remain accurate, fair and impartial. Candidates who have worked or are still working in the media should not receive undue prominence because of their previous or current media positions.
Freelance and independent journalist candidates will also be expected to observe the rules and avoid publishing material that promotes their campaigns or undermines their professional independence.
Anyone who believes the guidelines have been breached will be able to lodge a complaint with the Media Council.
MCK says election-related complaints should be submitted during the election period or as soon as reasonably possible after an alleged violation.
The Council will acknowledge complaints within 24 hours and conduct a preliminary assessment within 72 hours to determine whether the matter falls within its mandate, whether there appears to be a breach and whether further action is required.
The Council may fast-track cases where delays could affect the electoral process or cause continued harm, while ensuring all parties are treated fairly.
The new guidelines come as journalists increasingly consider entering politics ahead of the 2027 General Election, raising questions about how to balance their constitutional political rights with the need to maintain public confidence in independent journalism.
MCK has invited journalists, media organisations and other stakeholders to submit their views on the guidelines to its Regulatory Affairs department by September 3, 2026.
