UDA Takes Aim at Sections of Media, Accuses Journalists of Political Activism and Defends Security Response

UDA Takes Aim at Sections of Media, Accuses Journalists of Political Activism and Defends Security Response

UDA Secretary General Hassan Omar Hassan and former Governor Evans Kidero address the media at UDA headquarters in Nairobi, where the party accused sections of the press of bias and defended security agencies.

By Jeff Oyugi 

Nairobi - July 3rd, 2026

The ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) has launched a scathing attack on sections of the Kenyan media, accusing some outlets and senior journalists of abandoning professional standards, advancing politically motivated narratives and eroding public trust through unverified reporting.

In a strongly worded statement on Friday, UDA Secretary General Hassan Omar Hassan said the party remained firmly committed to constitutional freedoms, including media freedom, but insisted that such liberty must be matched by accuracy, fairness, impartiality and adherence to professional ethics.

“The United Democratic Alliance reiterates its unwavering commitment to constitutional freedoms, including the freedom of the media as guaranteed under the Constitution of Kenya. A free press remains an indispensable pillar of democracy and public accountability,” Hassan said.

However, he argued that some media organisations had drifted away from that role by favouring sensationalism over verification and commentary over facts. He said the party was increasingly alarmed by what it described as a pattern of speculation, politicisation and partisan reporting disguised as journalism.

Hassan maintained that journalists have a professional and ethical duty to publish verified, accurate and balanced information, while clearly distinguishing between fact, opinion and speculation. He warned that the spread of unverified claims, misleading headlines and opinion presented as fact risked eroding public confidence in the media, deepening political polarisation and weakening informed public discourse.

According to the UDA official, journalism should help advance national development by objectively informing citizens, fairly scrutinising institutions and facilitating constructive debate. Instead, he claimed, some outlets had become platforms for political interests.

He singled out several media houses, including Standard Group, Royal Media Services’ Citizen TV and Mediamax’s Kameme FM, accusing some of their editors, producers, anchors and reporters of becoming politically conflicted and losing the trust of Kenyans.

In one of the most pointed parts of his statement, Hassan linked what he described as biased coverage to former President Uhuru Kenyatta, KANU chairman Gideon Moi and individuals he termed their surrogates in the media. He accused them of exploiting national issues for political gain and pushing narrow interests at the expense of the country’s wellbeing.

Without providing specific examples of the alleged misinformation, Hassan said some journalists and commentators had blurred the line between personal opinion and truth, exposing what he called political affiliation and shallow analysis in their reporting and commentary.

He called on media houses to recommit themselves to the principles that have historically underpinned credible journalism, including factual accuracy, editorial independence, balance, accountability, fairness and intellectual rigour, and to refrain from airing propaganda, innuendo and unverified allegations disguised as news.

“The erosion of professional ethics and intellectual integrity associated with journalism has diminished the credibility of the profession and undermined public confidence in the media as an institution,” Hassan said.

He further accused parts of the media of prioritising ratings, personal vendettas, political narratives and commercial interests above rigorous fact checking and responsible reporting. No democratic society, he said, should be held hostage by fake news, distorted narratives and deliberately concocted reporting.

Hassan also criticised what he described as the increasing politicisation of media personalities, alleging that some anchors and presenters on television and radio had crossed into activism and partisan politics while continuing to operate under the cover of press freedom. Those wishing to actively engage in politics, he said, should resign from their media roles and openly join the political arena.

The UDA statement went further to defend senior government security officials, accusing sections of the media of profiling and undermining the work of Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo and other agencies under the Ministry of Interior and National Administration.

Hassan said some outlets had increasingly offered prime time platforms to individuals accused of breaking the law, thereby sanitising, glorifying or justifying unlawful conduct rather than supporting the rule of law. By presenting lawlessness as an act of courage or a form of social swagger, he argued, the media risked encouraging impunity and eroding public confidence in legal institutions.

He urged Kenyans to strengthen their media literacy by consulting multiple credible sources, verifying information before sharing it and relying on official government communication channels where necessary. He claimed that some media gatekeepers had abandoned their core obligation to tell the truth and had instead engaged in reckless falsehoods.

Despite the criticism, Hassan said UDA remained committed to engaging all media houses professionally and transparently while advocating for a media environment that serves truth, accountability, democracy and national development.

Former Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero, who also addressed the press, echoed the party’s concerns and said leaders had a responsibility to speak out when public information was being distorted.

Kidero, who noted that he had previously worked in the media, said he believed in journalism’s duty to inform the public truthfully and responsibly. Recalling his earlier years in the newsroom, he said editors at the time were careful not to allow newspapers to be used for partisan purposes or to spread falsehoods that divide the country.

“It is the responsibility of media houses not only to inform, but also to educate and entertain,” Kidero said. “My plea is that we move away from merchant headlines that are not truthful.”

He said while the government has a duty to protect citizens and property, public claims, especially on sensitive security matters, should be verified before publication or broadcast. Kidero appeared to question reports of disappearances and abductions that circulate online and in mainstream media, arguing that if someone is genuinely missing, the matter should be reported to the authorities to allow investigations to proceed.

Rather than creating fear, anxiety and despondency through unverified claims, he said, the public should allow security agencies to establish the facts and communicate the truth. Kidero also urged Kenyans to work with the government and President William Ruto in pursuit of unity and national stability.

“We need to bring Kenyans together and make sure we have unity,” he said, adding that truth should remain the country’s guiding principle.

The remarks are likely to reignite debate over the relationship between the government, the media and the country’s security agencies, at a time when concerns over shrinking civic space, online misinformation and political polarisation continue to shape national discourse. They also place fresh scrutiny on the role of newsrooms in balancing aggressive public interest journalism with accuracy, verification and fairness in an increasingly contested political environment.