MPs threaten media crackdown over election rigging plot report

By  Samwel Owino

Reporter

Nation Media Group

Members of Parliament have threatened to push for restrictions on media freedom over the publication of unverified claims of electoral malpractice ahead of the 2027 General Election, demanding that the Media Council of Kenya (MCK) take action against outlets they accuse of misleading the public.

The lawmakers expressed concern that some media houses were making unsubstantiated claims about the forthcoming elections, warning that such reporting could undermine public confidence in the electoral process and trigger violence.

They singled out the Standard Group, accusing it of using its platforms to settle political scores through its election coverage.

However, the Standard Group, in its September 30 edition of the Standard newspaper, said: “no amount of threats will deter us from the cause”.

“The Standard Group PLC will neither be intimidated or cowed in our pursuit of quality journalism. In our role as the people’s defender, we will not succumb to threats of our premises being raided by goons or members of the National Assembly suggesting doing away with the oldest media house in the region. We stand by our stories on different platforms and if there is any issue, then there are avenues to address the same,” the company wrote.    

The MPs urged the MCK to exercise its regulatory authority and take action against media houses found to be misleading the public, warning that failure to address the problem could have serious consequences for the country.

Article 34(1) of the Constitution guarantees the freedom and independence of electronic, print and all other types of media.

However, Article 33(2) stipulates that the right to freedom of expression does not extend to propaganda for war, incitement to violence, hate speech or advocacy of hatred.

Article 34(5) requires Parliament to enact legislation establishing an independent body, free from government, political or commercial control, to set media standards and regulate compliance while reflecting the interests of all sections of society.

Minority Leader Junet Mohamed said that although the media enjoys constitutional protection, it also has a responsibility to ensure that the public receives factual information.

“We all acknowledge that there is freedom of the Press, but there is no freedom of propaganda to misinform Kenyans. Every year we pass a budget here for MCK, but that organisation is just sitting back and seeing a media house misleading the entire country,” Mr Mohamed, who is the Suna East MP, said.

Mr Mohamed regretted that what he termed propaganda had taken root in media coverage of the 2027 elections.

“I believe in the freedom of the media, but as a leader, I cannot sit and watch propaganda take root. We are heading to an election, yet a media house is saying foreigners are being registered as voters. What will happen is that many Kenyans will not accept the outcome,” he said.

Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma called for drastic action against media houses accused of spreading ‘misinformation’, warning that the country risked following the path that led to the 1994 genocide in Rwanda.

“If we don’t control the media, we are headed the Rwanda way. We need to do something drastic. Media freedom under the Constitution should be subjected to limitation,” Mr Kaluma said.

Deputy Speaker Gladys Boss warned that persistent allegations of electoral malpractice by political leaders could fuel unrest after the 2027 elections.

“When we begin to make allegations that our elections are porous, it will make people not believe in the final outcome, and that can cause violence and unrest in our country,” Ms Boss said.

She disputed claims by a former Cabinet secretary that previous elections had been rigged, citing her experience as Chief Registrar of the Judiciary, when she was involved in the scrutiny of results on behalf of the Supreme Court.

“I have seen a former Cabinet secretary claiming that the past elections were rigged, and that is not true. At that time, I was the Chief Registrar at the Judiciary and was involved in the scrutiny of the results on behalf of the Supreme Court, and he was nowhere near the counting of the votes,” she said.

Ms Boss further alleged that claims of electoral malpractice were intended to undermine confidence in the results and create conditions for post-election violence.

“Our election system is one of the most secure ones in the world. There are nine security features in our election kits. It is, therefore, not possible to rig an election with the current election system,” she said.

On Monday, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) denied allegations reported by sections of the media that it was illegally registering voters from neighbouring countries.

IEBC chairman Erastus Ethekon warned against the spread of claims that the commission was registering Ugandans as voters, saying such reports were calculated to undermine public confidence in the integrity, security and credibility of Kenya’s electoral processes.

“The Commission notes with grave concern the continuous dissemination of misleading and unverified information by sections of the media, groups and individuals, through mainstream and social media platforms, concerning its constitutional mandate and ongoing preparations for the upcoming General Election,” Mr Ethekon said.

He said no entity, organisation, group or individual had presented the commission with credible evidence to support the allegations of illegality and malpractice.

Mr Ethekon said the commission would take appropriate action if credible evidence was presented, including disciplinary measures and investigations into suspected criminal conduct.

Where culpability was established, he said, those responsible would face prosecution and punishment in accordance with Kenyan law.

The chairman urged the public and other stakeholders to distinguish between credible evidence and unverified allegations, misinformation and sensationalist claims.

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