The Media Council of Kenya is an independent national institution established by the Media Council Act, No. 46 of 2013 for purposes of setting of media standards and ensuring compliance with those standards as set out in Article 34(5) of the Constitution and for connected purposes.
In 2007, media stakeholders had an agreement with Government on the formation of the Media Council of Kenya under the auspices of Media Act Cap411B. The Council as it was then established was an independent national institution responsible for the regulation of the conduct and discipline of journalists.
Its mandate was amongst others to register and accredit journalists, register media establishments, handle complaints from the public and create and publish yearly media audit on Media Freedom in Kenya. During accreditation, journalists agree to adhere to the Code of Conduct for the Practice of Journalism in Kenya, which was created by media practitioners and stakeholders with the view of making journalism in Kenya a professional field.
On 24th December 2013, the Media Council Act, 2013 was assented into law, effectively repealing Media Act Cap 411B of 2007. The Media Council Act, 2013 re-established the MCK as an apex media regulator as envisaged in the Constitution of Kenya 2010, introduced a competitive and transparent recruitment process for the members of the Council and the Complaints Commission and provided a clear dispute resolution mechanism with emphasis on mediation.
The MCK is guided by the vision of a society where media freedom is respected, upheld, protected and maintained and where journalists, media practitioners and media houses are professional, responsible and adhere to media ethics. It runs on a co-regulation model where it receives modest funding from the Government while at the same time it levies media houses and individual journalists. The funds are used in running the several activities the MCK undertakes.