Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communications, and the Digital Economy George Kabogo has strongly defended the government’s implementation of a strict new media code, a daring step intended to strengthen the controls on behavior in digital media.
The new rules, which have drawn both support and condemnation, aim to address the escalating problems of disinformation, worsening media ethics, and artificial intelligence (AI) abuse in Kenya’s quickly changing information landscape.
Speaking at a national stakeholders’ forum in Nairobi, CS Kabogo highlighted the urgent need for regulatory reforms that reflect the realities of modern digital journalism and content creation. He emphasized that the unchecked spread of AI-generated content, deepfakes, and manipulated media posed a threat to national cohesion, public trust, and democratic institutions.
“This code is not about silencing the media or stifling innovation,” Kabogo stated. “It is about setting ethical boundaries and ensuring accountability in an era where content can be produced without conscience and circulated without consequence.”
The new media code proposes mandatory disclosures for AI-generated content, strict verification protocols for news reporting, and penalties for media houses or individuals who disseminate misleading or harmful information.
It also encourages capacity building within media institutions to help journalists adapt to technological shifts responsibly.
While some media practitioners and digital rights activists argue that the code could be used to suppress press freedom, others view it as a necessary step to curb rampant disinformation and restore public confidence in the media.
Kabogo assured stakeholders that the process of implementing the code will involve wide consultation, including with editors, journalists, tech companies, and civil society.
With Kenya positioning itself as a regional digital hub, the country’s ability to balance innovation with ethics and oversight will be closely watched. Whether this media code becomes a tool for reform or repression will depend largely on its implementation and the willingness of all players to engage in good faith.
