Digital publishers challenge MCK to disclose ‘rogue’ platforms

By Newsflash Writer

The Media Council of Kenya (MCK) is under pressure from digital publishers and journalists to publicly identify the “rogue” online platforms it accuses of spreading fabricated headlines, doctored images and manipulated content.

The Council issued an advisory on Thursday, 20 November 2025, warning Kenyans about an escalation in misinformation and disinformation allegedly propagated by anonymous or unaccredited digital outlets. However, the statement did not name any of the offending platforms, sparking backlash from the very industry players it sought to caution.

In its advisory, the Council said it was “gravely concerned by the sharp rise in the deliberate spread of manipulated content, misinformation and disinformation across digital platforms,” describing such content as a “serious breach of journalistic ethics” with no legitimate public interest. It further stated that certain anonymous entities “routinely deploy sensational fabricated headlines, doctored images, invented quotations [and] overtly partisan narratives,” sometimes even engaging in the “blatant theft of logos and branding from legitimate media houses”.

But by declining to name specific platforms, the Council’s statement has now triggered questions about transparency, fairness and whether the broad warning amounts to a veiled indictment of the wider digital media ecosystem—an industry that continues to expand and command significant influence ahead of the 2027 General Election.

Publishers demand specificity

Several online publishers argued on Thursday that the omission of names effectively grouped all digital outlets together, creating what they described as an unnecessary cloud of suspicion around an industry that also hosts ethical, well-established newsrooms.

Speaking to Newsflash, Marvin Chege, Managing Editor of Viral Tea Ke news website, said the Council’s communication risks maligning credible platforms that adhere to professional standards.

“I wish they’d have mentioned the channel or platform by name. This is just generalizing online platforms,” Chege said. “This is blanket condemnation unless they have a purpose of making that statement. It’s like saying men are bad when it’s not all of them.”

A poster of the Viral Tea Ke news website. Photo/Viral Tea Ke

Chege added that the statement could reshape public perceptions in a harmful way: “That statement could influence Kenyans to turn against all online platforms in the country. Essentially, this is an attack on online media.”

Another journalist, Muturi Kanini, echoed those concerns, emphasizing that alternative media that have cultivated credibility would continue to operate professionally despite the Council’s remarks.

“That MCK statement is not a below-the-belt or stomach punch to digital media,” he said. “Alternative media that have built a reputation will continue serving their subscribers without fear of any unsubscribers. The MCK handles are niche content pages followed mainly by some academia and the media fraternity.”

Their comments highlight broader frustrations among digital creators who believe the Council should use its regulatory authority not only to warn the public but also to provide clarity that prevents the erosion of trust in legitimate newsrooms.

Rising fake news and calls for stronger enforcement

Kenya has witnessed a surge in fake news pages, impersonation accounts, and fabricated quotes targeting political leaders, public institutions and celebrities—most of them designed to influence public opinion or generate revenue from viral misinformation. The MCK acknowledged this trend in its advisory, warning that such violations “pose a profound threat to public trust, erode the credibility of genuine journalism and jeopardise the integrity of Kenya’s information ecosystem”.

In outlining its proposed actions, the Council announced it had referred the matter to the Communications Authority (CA) for investigations into the ownership and operation of the alleged rogue accounts, including potential shutdowns where necessary. The advisory also indicated that the MCK Fact-Checking Desk would “intensify its efforts to debunk false narratives in real time” and provide accurate information to counter misleading content.

However, some media observers argue that the Council must go beyond broad advisories if it is serious about curbing misinformation, especially as the country moves closer to an election cycle often characterised by disinformation campaigns.

“As we head towards the electioneering period, the MCK should step up its crackdown,” said Kiprotich Mutai, a journalism lecturer. “It should not only name, but also take legal actions against them.”

Mutai noted that the Council’s statutory mandate empowers it to uphold media standards and enforce accountability, suggesting that failure to identify rogue platforms may weaken the effectiveness of its call for vigilance.

Journalists in a newsroom. Photo/Kenya News Agency

The issue also raises deeper questions about how Kenya’s regulatory bodies can balance public warnings, platform-specific enforcement, and the protection of legitimate digital journalism — which has become a major player in breaking news, political analysis, and grassroots reporting.

At the end of the advisory, the Council reiterated that its directives were intended to “defend the integrity of journalism in Kenya and protect the public from deliberate deception”.

Newsflash Kenya’s position

As debates continue over whether the Media Council should publicly disclose the platforms it condemns, ethical digital publishers say accurate identification is necessary both for fairness and for effective enforcement. While the Council urges public vigilance, digital journalists insist that clarity would better serve the information landscape.

At Newsflash Kenya, we reaffirm our commitment to credible, verified reporting and strict adherence to journalistic ethics, especially at a time when misinformation threatens public trust and the credibility of the media industry at large.