06/08/2025
Media Sector Meet IEBC to Strengthen Electoral Collaboration**
Today, media leaders met with the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission(IEBC) (IEBC) to renew and strengthen their partnership ahead of upcoming by-elections and the next general election.
In 2022, the Kenya Union of Journalist (KUJ) and the Kenya Editors Guild (KEG) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the IEBC on behalf of the media. This agreement played a key role in facilitating the timely sharing of electoral data and ensuring accurate reporting during the 2022 elections.
The MoU was instrumental in establishing the media centre at Bomas of Kenya, which gave journalists direct access to verified information. The collaboration made reporting easier and more transparent, with the IEBC consistently providing updates and data.
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However, the MoU has since expired and requires a comprehensive review to address emerging issues before it is renewed. KUJ and KEG leaders recently held a brainstorming session with IEBC secretariat staff, and today’s meeting is a direct outcome of that engagement.
The MoU also created a joint media task force that helped manage the relationship between the media and the commission. This task force met regularly to deliberate on challenges and propose solutions. It now needs to be reconstituted and begin work immediately, especially with pending by-elections on the horizon.
We thank ELGIEA for organising this consultative meeting, which marks the beginning of renewed media engagement with the IEBC. The media has already formed a dedicated committee on elections and will continue to engage the commission on emerging issues.
As always, the media remains committed to upholding the highest professional standards in election coverage—ensuring accuracy, fairness, and public trust in the democratic process.
