Journalists eyeing seats in 2027 polls must notify Media Council of Kenya under new guidelines

Media Council of Kenya CEO David Omwoyo. (Photo: X/MCK)

By Rachael Mutabasi
Wednesday, June 3, 2026

According to MCK Chief Executive Officer David Omwoyo, the measures are designed to ensure that media practitioners pursuing political office are not unfairly disadvantaged while also preventing conflicts of interest within newsrooms and broadcast platforms.

Journalists intending to contest elective positions in Kenya’s 2027 General Election will be required to formally notify the Media Council of Kenya (MCK) as part of proposed new guidelines aimed at balancing political participation with newsroom integrity.

According to MCK Chief Executive Officer David Omwoyo, the measures are designed to ensure that media practitioners pursuing political office are not unfairly disadvantaged while also preventing conflicts of interest within newsrooms and broadcast platforms.

Omwoyo said the proposed framework will apply to a wide range of media professionals, including reporters, editors, producers, broadcasters, photographers, and other practitioners who may seek elective office. He emphasised that media platforms play a central role in shaping political discourse, making it necessary to establish clear ethical boundaries for those transitioning into active politics.

Latest Stories

Omwoyo added that the MCK is planning a public participation forum followed by a validation workshop in the coming weeks, with the final guidelines expected to be released within 30 days. The rollout is timed ahead of the one-year countdown to the 2027 General Election.

The council had previously issued election reporting guidelines during the 2022 polls, but says the new framework goes further in addressing the growing trend of media professionals seeking elective office.

“The whole idea is to ensure journalists seeking political office are not disadvantaged by being pushed out of newsrooms, while at the same time preventing them from using their profession to gain an unfair edge over competitors,” said Omwoyo.

MCK maintains that the aim is to safeguard fairness in electoral competition while respecting journalists’ rights to engage in democratic processes.