The National Assembly Departmental Committee on Communication, Information and Innovation has raised questions over proposed changes to the definition of a journalist as it scrutinizes the draft Media Council (Amendment) Bill, 2026.
During a Friday inspection tour of media hubs in Nakuru County, followed by deliberations with the Media Council of Kenya (MCK), MPs challenged proposals seeking to formally define journalism as a professional practice undertaken by individuals with recognised training and accreditation.
The proposed changes seek to distinguish professional journalists from regular journalists, bloggers and social media content creators, a move the Council says would bring clarity to the profession and strengthen its regulation.
However, lawmakers questioned whether the proposals risk excluding people who gather and disseminate information without formal journalism qualifications.
Hon. Bernard Kitur (Nandi MP) warned that leaving the definition open could create fresh confusion, arguing that even self-employed individuals could claim to be journalists without necessarily meeting professional standards.
The Committee sought clarification on what would distinguish someone practising journalism from a person who has not undergone formal training or accreditation.
The debate comes against the backdrop of a rapidly changing media landscape, where digital platforms have blurred the traditional boundaries between journalists, bloggers and content creators.
Mr. David Omwoyo the Council’s Chief Executive Officer, told MPs that the current law gives it broad discretion to determine who qualifies as a journalist, without Parliament providing sufficiently clear statutory criteria.
He said that the Council wants the law to establish minimum educational and professional requirements, alongside continuing obligations, to strengthen journalism as a recognized profession.
The proposed reforms also seek to address overlapping regulatory mandates between the Media Council and the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA), as well as duplication of responsibilities between the Council and the Complaints Commission.
The Council told the Committee that recent court decisions had clarified the distinction between the two regulators, particularly on the regulation of media content and the licensing of broadcasters.
It argued that the proposed amendments would strengthen its capacity to regulate media content and eliminate institutional conflicts that have complicated the sector’s oversight.
The review is also informed by the dramatic expansion of Kenya’s media industry since the Media Council Act was enacted in 2013.
The Council’s Training Director Mr. Victor Bwire told MPs that the number of television and radio stations had increased significantly, creating fresh demands for regulatory capacity, particularly in monitoring vernacular broadcasting.
He noted that effective monitoring could not depend entirely on Artificial Intelligence because content in local languages requires personnel who understand the languages and their cultural contexts.
He said that the Council had further secured approval to recruit an additional 100 staff members, increasing its authorised establishment to 222, to strengthen its operations.
Beyond regulation, journalists’ welfare and professional independence featured prominently during the engagement.
Lawmakers were challenged over concerns that many journalists are underpaid, with participants questioning the sustainability of journalism as a career amid rising living costs.
The Committee said it could raise concerns about remuneration with relevant government agencies, including the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC), but maintained that it had no authority to dictate remuneration in privately owned media houses.
The Committee’s vice Chairman Hon. Alfah Miruka (Bomachoge Chache) urged journalists to strengthen their professional associations and trade unions to champion their welfare and negotiate better working conditions.
Committee members, including Hon. Nzioka Kivasu (Mbooni), Hon. Joyce Bensouda (Homa Bay), Hon. Gideon Kimaiyo (Keiyo South), Hon Shakeel Shabbir ( Kisumu East), and Hon. Tubi Mohamed Tubi ( Isiolo South) also challenged journalists to safeguard their independence, verify information and resist pressure from political and commercial interests.
“Try to be realistic. This is your country, and whatever you disseminate to the public is internalized and digested. Give the public information that is true and authentic,” Hon Erastus Kivasu (Mbooni MP) told journalists.
Hon Dr Joyce Atieno Bensouda (Homa Bay) cautioned that media organizations had considerable influence over national stability, particularly as the country approaches another election cycle.
“Media houses can burn the country or build it,” she said, urging journalists to avoid propaganda and exercise responsibility in their reporting.
The Media Council also urged journalists to uphold professional ethics, collaborate with content creators to promote responsible digital communication and ensure timely dissemination of information, particularly at the grassroots.
It further emphasized the importance of journalists’ safety while covering sensitive assignments.
The Nakuru engagement also provided an opportunity for MPs to assess the work of regional media hubs established to support journalists outside Nairobi.
The Council said the hubs provide journalists with working spaces and access to facilities that enable them to gather and disseminate information from their respective regions.
It disclosed that it was pursuing partnerships with institutions, including Kenya News Agency and the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation, to address operational costs, particularly rent.
The proposed amendments are still under discussion and are not final. The Council said its proposals had drawn from consultations with industry players and international experiences, including regulatory models in Sweden, Finland and South Africa.
Further public participation is expected before the proposed changes are finalized.
The Committee’s scrutiny is expected to shape the proposed legislation, particularly on the delicate balance between professional standards, freedom of expression, media accountability and the changing realities of digital journalism.
~As reported by Parliamentary Communication Unit
