29 Apr 2026   The Media Council of Kenya (MCK) and the Commission on Administrative Justice (CAJ) - Office of the Ombudsman -  have underscored the urgent need to strengthen access to information for the media as the country prepares for the 2027 General Election. Speaking on the role of the media in Kenya’s digital information landscape, MCK Chief Executive Officer David Omwoyo affirmed that the media remains a critical watchdog, central to promoting accountability, democracy, and public participation. He acknowledged, however, that the sector continues to face significant headwinds, including the proliferation of misinformation, entrenched digital inequality, and persistent restrictions on access to information. “Access to information in the digital age is unique for the media sector in Kenya. The media plays a watchdog role by fostering accountability, democracy, and public participation. However, as we head towards the general elections, both the Commission and the Council must prioritise empowering the media to disseminate accurate electoral information,” Omwoyo said when he hosted the CAJ Vice Chairperson and Commissioner in charge of access to informationat Dorothy Jemator. Mr Omwoyo disclosed that the Council is currently developing a dedicated guide for media practitioners on the flow of information during elections, a resource intended to enhance accuracy, consistency, and public trust in electoral reporting. He noted that the collaboration with the Commission on Administrative Justice would complement this initiative, with both institutions working in concert to ensure the media is adequately equipped to navigate the information demands of an election cycle. The remarks come as stakeholders raise growing concerns about the integrity of information flows in an increasingly digital and politically charged environment. At the same time, Commissioner Jemator emphasised that access to timely and accurate information is both a governance and human rights imperative, noting that such access empowers citizens to safeguard their livelihoods, participate meaningfully in decision-making, and hold leaders accountable. Ms Jemator reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to supporting the media in accessing critical information, pledging to continue enforcing the Access to Information Act to ensure journalists obtain accurate and reliable data. “The mandate of the Commission is to ensure that the media obtains the right information to report accurately. As we continue to oversee and enforce the implementation of the access to information law and ensure the media gets the information needed for professional reporting, there is a need to review the previous pact that we had with the Council,” Jemator said. Jemator further underscored the importance of institutional collaboration in safeguarding electoral transparency, affirming that access to information lies at the heart of credible elections. “As we head towards the 2027 General Election, access to information is a fundamental pillar of credible elections. It enables citizens to make informed choices, participate in democratic processes, and hold officials accountable,” she said. She added that closer coordination between the Commission and the Council would be essential in promoting transparency across every stage of the electoral cycle, from voter education and candidate information through to results management. Jemator also called for MCK’s active support in publicising the Commission’s forthcoming State of Openness Report, which will seek to assess the prevailing state of information access in Kenya. The Media Council expressed its readiness to lend its platform and networks to the exercise, recognising that wider dissemination of the report’s findings would strengthen public awareness, reinforce accountability, and deepen civic engagement on issues of access to information. Underpinning the renewed collaboration, the two institutions have agreed to update their existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to reinforce their institutional relations and more effectively discharge their shared mandate of serving both the media and the public. The renewed partnership signals a concerted institutional effort to strengthen media capacity, improve the flow of information, and build public trust as Kenya approaches a pivotal electoral period.