The Interior Cabinet Secretary, Kithure Kindiki, has taken the opportunity of World Press Freedom Day to appreciate the essential role of journalists in society and to urge media stakeholders to join forces to combat fake news. Acknowledging the various challenges journalists face, including poor pay, Mr. Kindiki emphasized that low wages can result in low-quality reporting and sensationalism, ultimately leading to fake news.

The Cabinet Secretary has called for a review of the payment terms for journalists in the country, highlighting the need to address the issue of poor wages that can ultimately affect the quality of journalism.

However, the government has come under fire for failing to uphold media freedom, as evidenced by recent incidents, including the Shakahola massacre coverage and the physical assault of journalists during the Azimio protests. Unfortunately, no one has been held accountable for these violations of media freedom.

Despite these challenges, the Cabinet Secretary has expressed his willingness to collaborate with media players to expand and protect the current media space, eliminate opaqueness in the security sector, and combat fake news.