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ICT and Digital Economy Cabinet Secretary William Kabogo has dismissed claims of any improper ties between the government and the Media Council of Kenya (MCK).
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Addressing attendees at the 2025 Annual Media Summit in South C, Nairobi, Kabogo clarified that the council operates independently and is not biased in favour of the government.
“I want to clarify—using the phrase often thrown around—that the government is not ‘in bed’ with the Media Council of Kenya. The council does not exist to serve government interests,” said Kabogo.
He praised the MCK for upholding professional and ethical journalism standards and encouraged the media to hold the government accountable, but to do so with responsibility and accuracy.
“We must tell the story as it is. Responsible reporting is essential,” he said, citing misreporting around President William Ruto’s recent remarks on abductions as a case in point.
Kabogo criticised the distortion of Ruto’s statement, which addressed the issue of missing persons. The President had earlier stated that all those reported missing had been found and reunited with their families, and that such incidents would no longer occur under his administration.
“All individuals who had disappeared or were abducted have been returned to their homes. I’ve made it clear that such events will not be repeated,” Ruto had said during a joint briefing with Finnish President Alexander Stubb.
Kabogo noted that the media’s interpretation of the statement raised unnecessary alarm and stressed the importance of fair and accurate reporting.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to press freedom, saying, “We value freedom of expression as guaranteed by the Constitution. The government will not suppress the media.”
Kabogo added that the state aims to work collaboratively with the media sector to foster an environment that supports public interest journalism, backed by policies promoting digital literacy and improved media infrastructure.
