By Murugi Ndwiga
With just days to go before the much-anticipated by-elections in Mbeere North Constituency, Embu County, and several other parts of the country, journalists have been urged to uphold fairness, accuracy, and professionalism in their election coverage.
During an online capacity-building and sensitization forum attended by more than 100 journalists, the Acting Manager for Legal Reforms, Political Parties and Campaign Funding at the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), Ms. Ruth Makuthu, challenged members of the press to remain impartial and adhere to ethical reporting standards throughout the electoral period.
Ms. Makuthu noted that in past elections, some journalists have found themselves on the wrong side of the law, and even lost their jobs due to unethical conduct such as biased reporting, spreading false information, or receiving bribes, commonly referred to as brown envelopes, to favor certain candidates.
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“As the IEBC, our core mandate is to ensure fairness, integrity, and transparency in all electoral processes and that includes fair reporting,” said Ms. Makuthu. “It’s unfortunate that some journalists compromise their professionalism by engaging in unethical practices. Let’s raise the bar this time by maintaining the highest standards of integrity as we head into the November 27 by-elections and beyond, especially as we prepare for the 2027 General Elections.”
She further cautioned journalists against being found in possession of unauthorized election materials, including the Register of Voters, warning that such actions constitute serious offenses under the Elections Act.
“Anyone found with a document purporting to be the official Register of Voters must be ready to explain how they obtained it,” Ms. Makuthu warned. “Such offenses attract a fine of up to one million shillings or imprisonment. These laws are meant to protect the integrity of our elections and journalists are not above them.”
Also speaking at the forum, Ms. Christine Nguku, the Assistant Director of Media Training and Development at the Media Council of Kenya (MCK), emphasized the crucial role journalists play in shaping public perception during elections.
“During elections, the public depends heavily on journalists for timely, accurate, and unbiased information,” Ms. Nguku said. “Any instance of misinformation, sensationalism, or favoritism not only misleads the public but also undermines trust in the media. Ethical reporting is not optional it’s a duty.”
Also present at the session was Mr. Jackson Karanja, the Media Council of Kenya’s Eastern Regional Coordinator, who joined other officials in supporting efforts to strengthen ethical and professional standards in election coverage.
The training forum aimed to equip journalists with the skills and ethical grounding needed to cover the upcoming by-elections responsibly. More than 100 journalists were trained, with additional sessions scheduled for Thursday, November 13, 2025.