This archive report was first published on 3 October 2019.
Media practitioners have until the end of October to submit their views on proposed accreditation guidelines aimed at curbing rampant impersonation and corruption in the journalism profession.
According to the Media Council of Kenya (MCK), the current accreditation system is open to manipulation by some individuals who masquerade as active journalists.
Speaking during a sensitization meeting at the Stanley Hotel in Nairobi on Thursday, MCK chief executive David Omwoyo stated that the proposed regulations are aimed at tightening loopholes that allow impostors to operate.
"We have received numerous complaints from both the public and major media houses regarding the conduct of some individuals who have been accredited to practice journalism," Omwoyo said.
Under the proposed regulations, a journalist will only be accredited through editors, and the accreditation card will be surrendered to those editors when terminated from work.
The MCK has also proposed that a person should have a diploma or degree in journalism or media studies to be eligible for accreditation.
Additionally, all talk-show hosts, comedians, and cartoonists will be required to undergo mandatory training on Ethics and Media Laws before they are allowed to practice in newsrooms.
The crackdown will also extend to colleges and institutions training people in journalism, ensuring that only trained journalists are allowed to train journalists.
