MCK Issues Guidelines for Journalists Seeking Political Office Ahead of 2027

The Media Council of Kenya (MCK) has issued draft guidelines for journalists and other media professionals seeking elective political positions in the 2027 General Election, focusing on political candidacy, editorial neutrality, information integrity, sponsored content and election results coverage.

In a statement issued on Friday, August 21, 2026, MCK said the guidelines aim to promote professionalism while protecting the credibility, independence and public trust of the media.

The Council has also opened the draft guidelines to public participation and invited journalists, media practitioners and other stakeholders to submit their views by Thursday, September 3, 2026.

“The guidelines are in line with the Council’s mandate to promote professionalism while protecting the credibility, independence and public trust of the media,” MCK said.

The Council developed the draft guidelines in line with the Code of Conduct for Media Practice, which sets the benchmark for media professionalism in Kenya.

As a result, the proposals seek to give media professionals a clear framework as they prepare for the 2027 electoral period.

MCK Sets Guidelines for Journalists Entering Politics

The guidelines set out provisions for journalists and other media professionals seeking political office. They also address the conduct expected when media professionals move from journalism into electoral politics.

In doing so, the measures seek to protect editorial independence and prevent conflicts of interest during the transition from the newsroom to political activity.

Meanwhile, MCK has proposed safeguards to protect editorial neutrality and prevent political interests from affecting independent news coverage.

The Council has also identified information integrity as a key focus area. In particular, the draft addresses misinformation, artificial intelligence and deep fakes, which can affect the accuracy of information available to the public during an election period.

Furthermore, the guidelines address sponsored content and seek to distinguish paid material from independent news reporting.

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MCK has also included protocols for covering preliminary election results. These measures seek to promote accurate reporting and reduce the risk of misleading the public before officials declare final results.

MCK Invites Public to Comment on Draft Guidelines

Following the release of the draft, MCK has invited members of the public, media practitioners and other stakeholders to review the proposals and submit their views.

“The Media Council of Kenya (MCK) invites the public, media practitioners and stakeholders to submit views on the draft electoral conduct guidelines,” the Council said in its public participation notice.

To participate, members of the public can read the full draft through the link provided by MCK and send their comments to the Regulatory Affairs department through: regulatoryaffairs@mediacouncil.or.ke.

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The latest guidelines follow an earlier MCK press release issued on May 29, 2026, titled “From Airwaves to Assembly: MCK Champions for Media Professionals Participating in Politics while Guarding Journalistic Integrity ahead of the 2027 Polls.”

In that statement, MCK expressed solidarity with journalists, editors and other media practitioners seeking elective positions.

At the same time, the Council stressed the importance of protecting journalistic integrity as media professionals enter the political arena.

Through the latest draft guidelines, MCK seeks to establish a clear framework for media professionals entering politics while maintaining public confidence in journalism.

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Photo of the Media Council of Kenya (MCK) CEO David Omwoyo. PHOTO/MCK