By Nyang’au Araka
The Media Council of Kenya (MCK) has called for urgent reforms in how the country’s media handles high-profile national events.
The recommendation follows the Council’s comprehensive review of coverage surrounding the death and state funeral of former Prime Minister Raila Amollo Odinga.
Among the key recommendations, MCK is urging the development of clear operational procedures for reporting on the passing of prominent figures, stronger collaboration with fact-checking bodies, and binding agreements with global tech platforms to curb misinformation during periods of national mourning.
“We must ensure content moderation and priority fact-checking of flagged content, especially when the nation is grieving,” the report, which was released recently states.
The Council also recommends that media houses adopt internal policies requiring balanced gender and generational representation on discussion panels during national events.
This, it argues, would foster inclusivity and reflect the diversity of Kenyan society.
The report analysed coverage across 48 media outlets, including 18 television stations, 20 radio stations, six major newspapers, and four leading online platforms.
It spanned the period from early October, when speculation about Raila’s health began, through his death on 15 October, the state funeral ceremonies at Nyayo Stadium and Bondo, the Mashujaa Day honours, and the post-burial reflections that followed.
The findings paint a picture of a media landscape that rose to the occasion.
After an initial wave of politicised speculation and false rumours, mainstream outlets pivoted to a dignified and unifying tone.
“Across the spectrum from national to vernacular, public to private broadcasters, outlets showed exceptional professionalism and cultural sensitivity,” the Council observed.
Broadcast coverage was particularly praised for its balance and empathy.
Anchors integrated official condolences with family voices, while avoiding inflammatory rhetoric.
Citizen TV, NTV, and TV47 were singled out for their measured reporting.
Radio Citizen’s account of Raila’s final moments in India was cited as an example of factual reporting that avoided speculation.
“The reporting was accurate and fair, fostering public trust through dignified narratives that celebrated Odinga’s central role in shaping the country’s democratic journey,” the report noted.
Yet the Council did not shy away from highlighting challenges.
Social media was described as a “persistent outlier,” flooded with AI-generated fabrications, recycled falsehoods, and politicised speculation.
While verified news organisations upheld professional standards online, the broader ecosystem revealed fragility in verification processes.
“This divergence underscores a significant finding: when united by a profound national purpose, Kenyan journalism demonstrated its capacity to rise above partisan divides,” the Council said.
The report also examined how contentious moments were handled.
When Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga made inflammatory remarks during the mourning period, mainstream media responded with accountability-focused reporting rather than sensationalism.
This, the Council argued, showed maturity and restraint.
The scope of the study was wide, but it acknowledged limitations.
Smaller vernacular stations, blogs, and private messaging channels were not systematically included, meaning grassroots narratives and misinformation in those spaces may have been underrepresented.
The Council also admitted that while qualitative analysis provided rich insights, quantitative metrics such as audience reach and airtime allocations were not captured.
The report situates Raila’s funeral within Kenya’s tradition of state funerals, dating back to Jomo Kenyatta in 1978.
It notes that such events place extraordinary demands on journalists, requiring sensitivity, accuracy, and professionalism.
“The minute-by-minute coverage felt like reality television,” one observer remarked.
“From Kerala to the grave, very little of Raila’s final journey was hidden. The cameras rolled. History was captured—raw, unfiltered, and live.”
For the Council, the coverage of Raila’s passing was a defining test for Kenya’s
maturing media landscape.
Raila’s five-decade political journey, his role in championing the 2010 Constitution, and his leadership of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) made him a towering figure whose death carried immense national significance.
The report argues that how the media balanced the public’s right to know with dignity and sensitivity will serve as a benchmark for future events.
The Council’s Chief Executive Officer, David Omwoyo, praised the professionalism shown.
“This collective effort transformed a moment of national grief into a masterclass in healing journalism,” he said.
Director of Media Training and Development, Victor Bwire, added that the report was anchored in the highest standards of ethical practice.
The study was powered by a team of 38 analysts who monitored hundreds of hours of broadcast content, newspaper editions, and digital posts.
Their vigilance, the Council said, produced a record that will serve as a benchmark for responsible journalism in times of collective grief.
Further, the report says that Kenyan journalism distinguished itself during Raila Odinga’s farewell, proving it can serve as both custodian of collective memory and architect of national healing.
But it also warns that the rise of misinformation online remains a serious threat.
The Council’s recommendations; fact-checking units, stronger partnerships with tech platforms, and inclusive editorial policies, are designed to ensure that future coverage of national moments is both dignified and trustworthy.
In the words of the Council: “When the nation bids farewell to one of its giants, the media must rise to the occasion. Raila’s funeral showed that it can.”
