Kenyan media general election coverage was clearly above board

With a few exceptions, the media’s election coverage has largely been above board. All through the campaign period, and even after the Supreme Court ruling, journalists have been consistent in their efforts to promote issue-based politics. This is in line with the media’s responsibility to educate the public by arming them with credible and objective information about key political issues.

The media, though owned and managed by the private sector in most progressive societies, does not exist solely for profit. It also exists for the sake of bolstering democracy by promoting citizen participation in public debate. By integrating traditional news reporting on TV and newspapers with real-time social media discussions, Kenyan media houses have been able to deepen citizen participation on key issues.