The Media Complaints Commission has admitted a complaint by Ngigi Peter Chege, Director of Anestar Premier High School, against Nation Media Group PLC and journalists Mercy Koskei and Ruth Sarmwei Chesenge. The complaint concerns an NTV Kenya report broadcast on 13th November 2024, and an article published on Nation.Africa on 14th November 2024.
Mr Chege argues that the reports were false, misleading, malicious, biased and unverified. He alleges breaches of the Code of Conduct for Media Practice relating to accuracy, fairness and the right of reply, independence, responsible reporting, misrepresentation, protection of reputation and verification of sources.
The respondents deny the allegations, maintaining that the reports were fair and accurate, that Mr Chege was offered a right of reply and that reasonable care was taken before publication. After reviewing the parties’ submissions, the Commission established as follows.
- The complaint concerns a media enterprise and journalists within the Commission’s statutory mandate;
- The alleged breaches of accuracy, fairness, the right of reply and verification of sources raise triable issues; and
- The disputed claims can only be properly examined through mediation or adjudication involving all parties.
Guided by sections 31, 34 and 35 of the Media Council Act, 2013, the Commission found that the complaint discloses a prima facie case under the Code of Conduct for Media Practice, 2025, and is not devoid of merit or substance.
The decision to admit the complaint is not a final finding that any of the allegations are true or otherwise.