MCK, IEBC sign pact to strengthen media role in 2027 polls

By Newsflash Repoter

The Media Council of Kenya (MCK) and the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote ethical reporting and strengthen media oversight ahead of the 2027 General Election.

The agreement, signed in Nairobi on Wednesday, September 10, outlines collaboration on training, accreditation, voter education, and combating misinformation. Both institutions pledged to restore public confidence in elections through transparent and professional coverage.

IEBC Chairman Dr. Erastus Ethekon said the partnership reflects a shared responsibility to safeguard Kenya’s democracy. “Hate speech, ethnic division, and intimidation have no place in our elections. The media has a crucial role in shaping elections positively,” he said.

The signing comes just weeks before IEBC resumes continuous voter registration on September 29, marking a key milestone in election preparations.

Combating misinformation and building capacity

MCK Chief Executive Officer David Omwoyo stressed that the pact seeks to empower both journalists and voters with accurate information. He noted that with the rise of artificial intelligence and deepfakes, misinformation remains one of the biggest threats to democracy.

“This MoU represents our joint effort to encourage responsible media coverage. As we approach 2027, tackling disinformation through enhanced media and digital literacy is essential to empower voters,” Omwoyo said.

The agreement will see journalists trained on electoral processes, democracy, and governance, while IEBC staff will receive capacity-building on media relations, crisis communication, and public engagement. A streamlined accreditation system requiring journalists to present valid MCK press cards will be enforced to curb impersonation.

Media centres will be set up to support coverage during elections, and a collaborative fact-checking platform will be launched to expose and counter false information.

Calls for shared broadcast signal and future cooperation

IEBC CEO Marjan Hussein Marjan suggested exploring a shared broadcast signal for presidential election results to avoid the confusion that arose in 2022 when different media houses reported varying tallies.

“Can we align better this time? Can we explore a central broadcast hub? These are lingering questions we must confront if we are to restore public trust,” Marjan said during consultations with media stakeholders.

While acknowledging progress in journalist accreditation and real-time updates during the last polls, he admitted that misinformation, delayed access, and disjointed reporting undermined trust in the process.

Commissioner Dr. Alutalala Mukhwana, who chairs IEBC’s Communications and Publicity Committee, said effective communication with the public will remain a priority. “We are committed to working closely with the media to share timely and accurate information,” he said.

The MoU lays the foundation for long-term collaboration between MCK and IEBC, with both bodies agreeing to expand joint initiatives on civic education, digital literacy, and election reporting standards as Kenya heads toward 2027.