The Media Council of Kenya has affirmed its commitment to ensuring factual reporting, especially during the electioneering period.
MCK CEO Mr David Omwoyo told a team from Africa Check that the Council is working with partners towards establishment of active fact-checking desks to check accuracy of information that goes out to the public.
Mr Omwoyo underscored the role of the Council in fact-checking and the place of collaborations in finding ways of debunking fake news and fact-checking news in real time.
“Mechanisms such as having a collaborative fact-checking desk and a hotline with a link to the newsrooms will help minimise the spread of misinformation and disinformation”, he said.
“It is an added advantage working with an established organisation to benchmark and learn new things”, said Mr Omwoyo.
He also reinforced the importance of trainings, adding that emphasis should be placed on trainings on how to spot disinformation and different levels of capacity building for editors to enhance accuracy in newsrooms. Mr Omwoyo stated that such trainings will also target vernacular radio stations, noting that a lot of campaigns go on vernacular radio stations.
“We have made a deliberate decision to prepare for the elections by training journalists and setting up more Media Literacy Forums to reinforcing our role of fact-checking”, said Mr Omwoyo.
Africa Check Deputy Director Ms Retha Langa echoed Mr Omwoyo’s sentiments, stating that the election will be a major focus in terms of trainings and fact-checking.
“This is a good synergy in coming up with solutions that speak to our African context”, said Ms Langa.