The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
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Media stakeholders are pushing for urgent legal changes to better protect whistleblowers and investigative journalists, warning that increasing threats, intimidation, and strategic lawsuits are weakening efforts to fight corruption.
Speaking at an anti-corruption workshop for journalists in Nairobi, Zubeida Kananu said the current environment leaves both reporters and their sources exposed to serious risks, even when acting in the public interest.
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She noted that although cooperation between the Kenya Editors Guild and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission has improved, gaps in legal protections and security continue to hinder effective investigative journalism.
Kananu stressed that corruption has become more complex, requiring stronger collaboration, but warned that journalists are increasingly being targeted through intimidation and costly court cases aimed at silencing them.
She called for a stronger legal framework to shield both journalists and whistleblowers, insisting that no reporter should have to risk their safety to expose the truth.
Churchill Otieno echoed her concerns, saying corruption has grown more organised and adaptive, challenging the media to strengthen its investigative capacity and commitment to accountability.
Meanwhile, David Omwoyo emphasised the need for institutions to support journalists by ensuring access to information and guaranteeing their protection, criticising public agencies that withhold critical data.
Participants also highlighted emerging digital threats such as artificial intelligence, deepfakes, and coordinated online smear campaigns, warning that these tactics are being used to discredit investigative reporting and erode public trust.
As calls for reform intensify, stakeholders agreed that stronger legal protections will be key to sustaining independent journalism and advancing the anti-corruption fight.
Francis Mureithi described corruption as a “slow poison,” warning that its gradual impact continues to erode public trust, governance, and accountability, and urged journalists to remain committed to truth and evidence in their reporting.
