Nakuru workshops focused on responsible election coverage ahead of the August 2027 polls.
Separate Nakuru workshops urge journalists, bloggers and content creators to verify claims, remain impartial and give diverse voices fair coverage.
Journalists, bloggers and content creators attended election reporting training in Nakuru ahead of Kenya’s August 2027 General Election. Organisers urged participants to prioritise accuracy, impartiality and professionalism throughout political campaigns and voting.
International Justice Mission (IJM) and Mid-Rift Human Rights Network organised the two workshops separately. Both sessions focused on responsible journalism before, during and after elections to support peaceful, credible and transparent electoral processes.
The workshops also sought stronger working relationships between media practitioners and key public institutions. These included the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, National Cohesion and Integration Commission, Independent Policing Oversight Authority and National Police Service.
Election reporting training stresses verification
Mid-Rift Executive Director Joseph Omondi urged journalists to check facts and verify information before publishing. He warned against spreading misinformation, disinformation and malinformation that could weaken public confidence in elections.
Omondi also raised concern about journalists joining political camps ahead of the 2027 polls. He urged media practitioners to remain neutral, treat candidates fairly and rely on credible sources.
To underline the risks, he recalled events preceding retaliatory attacks in Naivasha and Nakuru during the 2007/2008 post-election violence. He stressed conflict-sensitive journalism and adherence to professional ethics.
Rather than amplify narratives that divide communities along ethnic or regional lines, Omondi called for issue-based coverage. The United Kingdom funded the workshop, which Mid-Rift and the Electoral Law and Governance Institute for Africa implemented.
Inclusive coverage and AI misinformation
Meanwhile, Media Council of Kenya Rift Valley Regional Coordinator Joseph Mecha cautioned against publishing unverified claims and inflammatory statements. He also warned journalists against content that could encourage violence.
Mecha called for meaningful representation of women, young people, persons with disabilities and other marginalised groups in electoral coverage. He further urged journalists to avoid discriminatory language and give diverse voices equal opportunities.
At the separate IJM workshop, participants learnt how to identify and counter misinformation. The training also addressed artificial intelligence, which can enable people to generate fabricated content and spread it online.
Media Council of Kenya Assistant Director for Training and Curriculum Development Christine Nguku urged participants to use gender-sensitive language. She also emphasised media ethics and conflict-sensitive reporting, particularly in volatile areas ahead of the election.
Nguku highlighted the responsibilities of content creators and programme hosts because of their influence on the public agenda.
