The Media Council of Kenya (MCK) has warned politicians against turning media houses into safe havens to evade law enforcement, saying newsrooms must remain neutral spaces dedicated to journalism.
In a statement issued Thursday, the Council said recent events in which a politician sought refuge inside a media establishment to avoid legal processes had raised concerns over the safety and independence of media organisations.
MCK CEO David Omwoyo said media houses should not be transformed into sanctuaries for public figures facing legal challenges.
“Media houses are independent platforms for public discourse, not sanctuaries from the rule of law,” Omwoyo said.
The Council said the matter was particularly important as the country prepares for the 2027 General Election, when political activity and public engagements are expected to intensify.
It stressed the need to preserve the “sanctity of the press”, saying media institutions must remain safe and neutral spaces dedicated solely to journalism.
“Newsrooms are not safe houses or asylum centres; public figures must vacate premises immediately after their engagements,” the Council said.
The MCK also cautioned against the use of media facilities as tactical hideouts during political disputes, saying such conduct could place an unnecessary operational burden on media organisations.
It warned that such situations could also create the perception that journalists or media houses are accomplices in political disputes.
“Transforming newsrooms into tactical hideouts places an undue operational burden on media houses and risks falsely portraying journalists as accomplices to external disputes,” the Council said.
The Council maintained that its position was not intended to limit freedom of expression or the media’s role in facilitating public debate.
Instead, it said politicians and other public figures must distinguish between seeking media platforms to communicate with the public and using media premises to evade law enforcement.
“While the Council fiercely defends freedom of speech, politicians must answer to law enforcement authorities, and outside media properties,” it said.
The Council urged political actors to respect both the physical and professional boundaries of media institutions, saying this was necessary to safeguard press freedom and editorial independence.
The statement comes ahead of the 2027 General Election, with political parties and leaders already stepping up mobilisation and public engagements across the country.
MCK said the increasing political activity should not expose journalists and media organisations to external disputes or security risks.
It called on all political actors to respect the role of the media as an independent institution and avoid actions that could compromise the safety of journalists or create doubts about editorial neutrality.
The Council said protecting media spaces was essential to ensuring journalists could continue carrying out their constitutional role of informing the public and facilitating democratic debate.
“Media institutions must remain safe, neutral spaces dedicated solely to journalism,” it said.
