NAIROBI, Kenya — The Media Council of Kenya (MCK) has issued a new directive requiring all media houses to implement a minimum seven-second delay on live broadcasts. The advisory, released on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, seeks to prevent the unintentional airing of content that breaches Kenya’s national Code of Conduct for Media Practice.
The council cited a growing concern over unchecked live coverage, particularly during political rallies and public gatherings, which has increasingly resulted in the transmission of inflammatory statements, misinformation, and manipulated media content.
“This includes unchecked live broadcasts of public rallies, which breach the Code of Conduct for Media Practice in Kenya. A media enterprise shall incorporate a minimum seven-second delay in live broadcasts to prevent the unintended publication of material that violates this Code,” the MCK said in the advisory.
While the council acknowledged that media houses are not responsible for the initial remarks made at rallies or public events, once such statements are broadcast via a media platform, they fall under media regulations and oversight.
“Although the MCK and the media sector are not responsible for utterances made at political rallies or other public gatherings, once such remarks are transmitted via a media platform, they become subject to media regulations,” the advisory noted.
The directive underscores the need for responsible journalism, balancing freedom of expression with accountability. It calls on broadcasters to ensure that editorial content, news items, or commentaries are not presented in ways that could inflame passions or exacerbate tensions.
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The council specifically instructed media houses to redact offensive language even when reporting on hate speech for public-interest purposes.
This is intended to prevent further polarization while promoting public-interest journalism that strengthens democratic governance and respects Kenya’s principle of unity in diversity.
“Media houses should therefore ensure that editorial content, news items, or commentaries are not published in a manner likely to inflame passions or aggravate tensions. When reporting hate speech for public-interest purposes, offensive words must be redacted,” the MCK added.
The seven-second delay is now expected to become a standard practice for live broadcasts across television, radio, and online media platforms, as Kenya seeks to enhance media accountability while protecting democratic discourse.
