The Commission has affirmed its support to enable the media to access information. Speaking when she visited the Media Council of Kenya (MCK) offices, Chairperson, Hon. Florence Kajuju, said the work of the Commission is to ensure that journalists obtain the right information to enable them to report accurately.
“Pursuant to our mandate of overseeing and enforcing the implementation of the Access to Information law, we will ensure that the media gets the right information to support accurate and professional reporting. That is why we have a pact with MCK,” Hon. Kajuju said.
Hon. Kajuju further emphasised on the importance of journalists to be able to access information especially during the electioneering period to avoid misreporting and made a commitment that the Commission will work with other stakeholders to ensure that journalists are not denied information to aid their work.
On his part, the Chief Executive Officer of MCK, Mr. David Omwoyo, urged the media to uphold professionalism and utilise information for objective reporting.
“We continue training journalists on access to information and the need to report accurately and objectively, and to guard against fake information,” he said.
Mr. Omwoyo revealed plans by the Council to roll out a round-the-clock fact-checking system to enable media houses address fake news and misinformation, noting that access to information, accuracy of information, and journalists’ training are key areas that the Council will continue to focus on.
The Commission in September 2020 signed a Memorandum of Understanding with MCK and through the partnership 170 journalists have been trained on access to information. The two institutions have also published “Access to Information in Kenya: A Journalists’ Handbook”, a publication tailored for journalists to better utilise the provisions of the Access to Information Act to advance their public watchdog role.
