Media Council of Kenya Clarifies Alleged Warning to Media Houses

The Media Council of Kenya (MCK) has dismissed a statement that falsely claimed the council had warned media houses against inflammatory reporting.  

In an update on Monday, March 17, MCK clarified that the statement in circulation, which appeared as a press release, is fake. 

As such, the council urged members of the public and journalists to verify information from its official sources. 

"Please be aware that the claim circulating about the Media Council cautioning media houses against inflammatory reporting is fake. Always verify information from official Media Council sources," the council posted. 

The statement in question, which bore the MCK logo and formatting similar to official releases, alleged that the council had warned media houses about sensational reporting that could mislead the public. 

It also claimed MCK would review compliance with journalistic ethics and take regulatory action against media outlets found to be engaging in reckless reporting. 

Notably, this comes three days after Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) dismissed a circulating job recruitment advert as fake. 

The fraudulent advertisement, which has been widely shared on social media, claims that the company is looking to train and employ 10,000 youths under a new program for 2025.  

The misleading advert, which includes the Kenya Power logo, falsely states that both graduates and non-graduates will be provided with free accommodation and meals. 

Kenya Power took to its official social media accounts on Friday, March 14, to debunk the claims, labeling the advertisement as fake.