Journalists, media houses, human rights actors and duty bearers in Kisumu have been urged to work together to address threats against media practitioners and promote accountability for attacks, as the country heads towards the 2027 General Election.
The call was made at a Media Council of Kenya (MCK) forum held in Kisumu on 2 November 2026 to mark the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists. Held under the theme “Threats Evolve, Impunity Endures”, the engagement brought together journalists and human rights experts to reflect on the changing threats facing journalists, the chilling effect of intimidation and attacks, and practical ways to strengthen their safety.
MCK Kisumu Regional Coordinator Teddy Evans said stronger collaboration between journalists and duty bearers was critical to addressing threats against media practitioners. He noted that constructive engagement and mutual understanding among stakeholders would allow journalists to carry out their work without fear or intimidation.
Evans also called on senior journalists to take a deliberate role in mentoring young journalists entering the profession, and in helping them navigate an increasingly complex media landscape.
Senior Regional Editor and Reporter Kepher Otieno described the chilling effect of threats, intimidation and interference. He warned that such experiences could compromise independent journalism and weaken the media’s ability to serve the public interest. He stressed the need to uphold the social contract between journalists and duty bearers, anchored on mutual respect, accountability and recognition of the media’s role in society.
Kisumu Journalists Network Chairman Rushdie Oudia urged stakeholders to prioritise training in election reporting ahead of the 2027 polls. He observed that many journalists would be covering an election for the first time and would need targeted training to report accurately, ethically and responsibly in politically sensitive environments.
Kenya Correspondents Association (KCA) Nyanza Chair Kevin Omolo challenged media houses to institutionalise newsroom safety mechanisms. These include clear procedures for assigning reporting duties, risk assessments before deployment and debriefing sessions after assignments. He argued that journalist safety should be treated as the responsibility of the whole newsroom rather than of individual journalists.
Participants called for a shift from reacting to attacks on journalists towards preventive, institutional and collaborative approaches to media safety. These included stronger newsroom safety protocols, continuous professional development, mentorship and better accountability mechanisms for violations against media practitioners.
They noted that with the 2027 General Election approaching, protecting journalists had become more urgent, since the ability of media practitioners to report freely and safely is central to credible elections and the public’s right to information.