The Media Council of Kenya (MCK) has called on the Catholic Church to adopt proactive communication strategies to address misinformation and disinformation challenges.
Speaking at the annual Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) meeting in Mombasa, MCK CEO David Omwoyo emphasised the need for preparedness and resource pooling to tackle misinformation effectively, especially in light of the rise if Artificial Intelligence.
“The Church needs resources and networks to be effective. It is vital to foresee problems and create solid plans to handle misinformation well,” he said.
Mr Omwoyo urged the Church to establish a communication channel supported by reliable networks, noting that platforms such as X and official websites could be utilised to share accurate information and reduce the spread of fake news.
“The biggest challenge we are going to have with the rise of artificial intelligence is fake news - cropped photos, forged messages and even signatures,” he forewarned.
To strengthen resilience, he called for the adoption of recovery strategies and audience feedback mechanisms to enhance engagement and trust.
“Embrace crisis communication. Be ready with the response, resources, networks and to conduct a review of the situation,” he advised.
Mr Omwoyo highlighted the need for skilled professionals to manage social media platforms, adding that clergy who are public figures could play a critical role.
The meeting, which brought together Catholic communication coordinators, radio directors, and editors, highlighted the importance of leveraging technology and collaboration to position the Church as a trusted source of information in an era of digital disruption.