NAKURU, County—The Media Council of Kenya (MCK) is developing a new framework to govern journalists seeking elective office, in a move aimed at balancing political rights with the need to maintain fairness and credibility in the electoral process ahead of the 2027 General Election.
MCK Chief Executive Officer David Omwoyo said journalists intending to contest political seats will be required to formally notify the council as part of proposed guidelines designed to prevent conflicts of interest and ensure a level playing field among candidates.
Speaking in Nakuru, Omwoyo said the regulations will apply across the media industry, covering reporters, editors, broadcasters, producers, photographers and other media practitioners who wish to venture into politics.
The move comes as Kenya enters a period of heightened political activity, with parties and aspirants already positioning themselves ahead of the next General Election.
According to Omwoyo, the council is keen to ensure that journalists seeking public office are not unfairly locked out of their profession while at the same time preventing the misuse of media platforms for political advantage.
“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,” he said.
He noted that media platforms remain central to political campaigns, public debate and policy discussions, making it necessary to establish clear boundaries for journalists who choose to transition into active politics.
“Media platforms are the spaces where campaigns, policy discussions and political communication take place,” Omwoyo said.
Under the proposed framework, journalists seeking elective office will be subjected to clear timelines outlining when they should step away from newsroom duties and public-facing programmes.
The guidelines are expected to establish thresholds governing newsroom participation, editorial responsibilities and on-air appearances for media practitioners who become political aspirants.
“If you are a broadcaster hosting a governance programme, there must be an early timeline for leaving the screen or microphone and perhaps remaining behind the scenes in the studio. There should also be a threshold for completely leaving the newsroom so that candidates compete on a level playing field,” he said.
Omwoyo revealed that MCK will conduct public participation and stakeholder consultations before finalising the regulations.
The council plans to convene a validation workshop within the next two weeks, with the final guidelines expected to be unveiled within 30 days as preparations for the 2027 elections gather momentum.
The proposed framework is likely to spark debate within the media industry, where questions surrounding journalistic independence, political participation and professional ethics continue to shape discussions on the role of the media in a democratic society.
For many observers, the guidelines could establish a new benchmark on how media practitioners transition from journalism to politics while preserving public trust in both institutions.
The proposed guidelines come at a time when several media personalities are reportedly being linked to elective politics ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Among journalists whose names have featured in political discussions are Citizen TV reporter Stephen Letoo, who has been associated with the Kilgoris parliamentary race, and television personality Lulu Hassan, whose name has been mentioned in connection with Mvita Constituency politics. Mwanahamisi Hamadi has also been linked to political interests in Likoni Constituency.
The growing number of media practitioners exploring political careers has intensified debate on how journalists can transition into elective politics while maintaining public confidence in the independence and integrity of the media.
