NAIROBI, Kenya — Kenya Editors Guild (KEG) President Zubeidah Kananu has called for stronger protections for journalists covering corruption, warning that legal intimidation, digital disinformation, and political pressure are increasingly undermining investigative reporting in Kenya.
Speaking at the Anti-Corruption Workshop for Media Practitioners hosted by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, Kananu said the partnership between the media and anti-corruption agencies must evolve from a transactional relationship into a structured framework for accountability and public protection.
She said the Memorandum of Understanding between the Kenya Editors Guild and the anti-graft agency marked a turning point in cooperation, but warned that reporting on corruption in 2026 has become “increasingly hazardous.”
“We did not just sign a piece of paper—we signed a pact to protect the soul of this nation from the cancer of corruption,” she said.
Kananu said journalists investigating corruption face rising threats beyond physical intimidation, including Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs), which she described as a growing tool used by powerful individuals to silence critical reporting.
“These lawsuits are effectively gagging us before the first sentence of an investigation is even published,” she said, calling for legal reforms to shield journalists acting in the public interest.
She urged the EACC and security agencies to support the creation of protective mechanisms for journalists covering sensitive investigations, arguing that media practitioners should not be forced to choose between safety and truth.
Kananu further proposed that proceeds recovered from corruption cases could be reinvested into strengthening investigative journalism desks and fact-checking initiatives, arguing that sustained accountability requires resourced newsrooms.
The KEG President also warned of emerging digital threats, noting that artificial intelligence tools are now being used to spread disinformation and discredit journalists through deepfakes and coordinated online campaigns.
“In 2026, the corrupt have a new ally: Artificial Intelligence,” she said. “We are seeing coordinated campaigns designed to erode public trust even before the truth is published.”
She called for closer technical collaboration between media organisations and state agencies to verify information and counter digital manipulation targeting investigative reporters.
Kananu also raised concerns about integrity gaps in public office, citing cases where individuals flagged by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission reportedly still made it onto the ballot in past elections despite integrity concerns.
She said such outcomes undermine Chapter Six of the Constitution on leadership and integrity and place additional pressure on journalists and anti-corruption bodies.
“When individuals with questionable integrity assume office due to procedural technicalities, the media’s burden doubles and the EACC’s mandate is frustrated,” she said.
She proposed reforms to ensure that individuals flagged by constitutional commissions undergo expedited clearance processes before contesting elective positions.
Kananu reaffirmed KEG’s commitment to strengthening ethical journalism, training reporters, and deepening collaboration with anti-corruption institutions. She urged greater transparency from investigative agencies to enable journalists to report safely and accurately.
“We want our journalists not only to report the who and the what of corruption, but to interrogate the how—the systemic loopholes that allow it to persist,” she said.
She concluded with a call for collective responsibility in protecting both truth and those who report it, stating that the fight against corruption must include safeguarding the media itself.
“Tuangamize Ufisadi, Tuijenge Kenya. Tulinde Mwanahabari, Tuhifadhi Ukweli,” she said.
