On Monday, 4 May 2026, Strathmore University, in partnership with the Media Council of Kenya (MCK), marked World Press Freedom Day 2026 by convening leaders across media, policy, academia, and civil society under the theme “Shaping a Future at Peace.”

Amid tensions between truth and power, speed and accuracy, and freedom and responsibility, participants called for unity, integrity, and a sustainable media landscape as Kenya’s press freedom reaches a critical moment.

Delivering the keynote, Hon. Justice Isaac Lenaola placed the media at the center of this national moment. In a country both vibrant and vulnerable to polarization, he warned that the speed of digital information has amplified not just ideas, but misinformation.

“When intolerance grows,” he noted, “it weakens our ability to resolve differences peacefully.” The call, therefore, was not for silence but for responsibility. Reporting, he emphasized, must inform without inflaming, especially as the country looks toward future electoral cycles.

That reality was echoed by the launch of the State of the Media 2025 Report by David Omwoyo, MCK CEO. The findings paint a media ecosystem in transition, with digital platforms now dominating news consumption, social media emerging as the leading source of information for Kenyans, while traditional media continues to contract. At the same time, public concern is rising, with misinformation and biased reporting cited among the top threats to credible journalism.

Yet, as Ms. Zubeidah Kananu, President of the Kenya Editors’ Guild, reminded the gathering, journalism remains a mirror. “Without it, the nation cannot see where to clean itself.” Her address was both a defense and a challenge, calling for the protection of journalists from intimidation, the strengthening of professional accountability, and the adoption of emerging technologies, including AI, to counter misinformation.

On his part, Temesi Mukani, Secretary, Information and Broadcasting, State Department for Broadcasting and Telecommunication, called for alignment with emerging technologies while emphasizing the need to safeguard editorial independence and strengthen accountability in a rapidly evolving landscape.

Across the discussions, a shared thread emerged. The future of media cannot be separated from the future of peace. Panel sessions, from Demystifying the Changing Media Environment to Political Intolerance and its Impact on Media Freedom, unpacked the systemic pressures shaping journalism today, from shrinking civic space to the ethical complexities of a digital-first world.

For Strathmore University, the moment also reaffirmed a deeper institutional commitment. Dr. Magdalene Dimba, Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences (SHSS), framed the conversations as both an affirmation and a call to action.

“Today’s event strongly endorses our communication programme,” she noted, “and underscores our responsibility to nurture ethical communicators who contribute meaningfully to society, the nation, and global peace.”

In a media landscape increasingly shaped by information overload, AI-generated content, and contested facts, she emphasized that while a free press remains vital, a responsible press is indispensable to peace. Anchoring her remarks in the broader theme of the day, Dr. Dimba reaffirmed that peace is advanced through justice, accountability, and an informed society.

And as the conversations closed, the consensus was that a free and responsible press is not optional. It is foundational. Without it, truth becomes fragile. And where truth is fragile, peace itself becomes impossible.

Article written by Stephen Wakhu.