The Media Council of Kenya (MCK) and Katiba Institute have organized a national conference on June 7, 2022, at Norfolk hotel to deliberate on elections and access to information ahead of the August polls.
The summit will bring together journalists, civil society, government entities, and community representatives.
Commenting on the summit which will be held next week on Tuesday, Kevin Mabonga, who is the head of communications at Katiba Institute, highlighted the importance of access to information during this electioneering period.
"The importance of access to information in the electoral process cannot be underestimated. It enables voters to be educated and informed about political processes so that they can have a basis upon which to vote for political office holders and to hold public officials accountable for their actions," Mabonga stated.
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The conference will be anchored on three main objectives that seek to; provide a platform for national discourse between stakeholders on the role of the media in the upcoming election, entrench the culture and practice of utilizing the access to information law in promoting accountability and lastly promote the safety and security of journalists and human rights defenders.
In the past months, MCK and Katiba Institute have been engaging journalists, civil organisations, human rights defenders, community leaders, and the general public on the law on access to information ahead of the 2022 election.
The engagements have been centered on several key issues that include; training and capacity building on access to information law and empowering stakeholders on issues revolving around election coverage, safety, and how to efficiently collaborate with other entities involved in the electioneering process.
The conference will have a total of 200 attendants; 100 being physical, while the other half will attend virtually.
The summit will kick off with keynote addresses from invited guests, and the discussion will centre around; media and elections, access to information, and the safety of journalists.