How to be Accredited as a Local National Journalist in Kenya

The Media Council of Kenya is an independent national institution established by the Media Act, 2007 as the leading institution in the regulation of media and in the conduct and discipline of journalists in Kenya. How to be Accredited as a Local National Journalist in Kenya.  It is mandated amongst other functions to register and accredit journalists, register media establishments, handle complaints from the public and create and publish yearly media audit on the Media Freedom in Kenya. During accreditation the journalists agree to adhere to the Code of Conduct and Practice of Journalism in Kenya, which was created by media practitioners and stakeholders with the view of making Journalism in Kenya a more professional and respectable field.

Prior to the Media Act 2007, the Media Council of Kenya was a self-regulatory body formed in 2004 by media stakeholders to regulate the media and prevent Government from creating a regulatory body. It was only after agreements between the Government of Kenya and the Media stakeholders in Kenya did it convert from a Self-Regulatory to a Statutory body in 2007.

Council membership is drawn from media stakeholders in Kenya including the Media Owners Association, Kenya Union of Journalists, Kenya Correspondents Association, Kenya Editors Guild, Public Relations Society of Kenya, Kenya News Agency, Private and Public Universities, the Kenya Institute of Mass Communication and the Law Society of Kenya.

• Privacy of Accreditation Information: Once a journalist is accredited, they agree to disclosure of their accreditation status including when they were accredited, the organization they work for and their academic qualification
• Card Replacement: Lost press cards will only be replaced upon production of a police abstract and letter from the employer stating the loss. The card replacement fee is Ksh 300.
• Pursuant to sections 4, 6(h), 23(c) and 46 of the Media Council Act no 46 of 2013, the Media Council of Kenya undertakes Annual Accreditation of journalists practicing in Kenya for purposes of compiling and maintaining a register of journalists, media practitioners, media enterprises and media training institutions in Kenya.
• One of its main aims is to improve professionalism among journalists as it ensures that all accredited journalists have the right skills to carry out their duties in a professional manner as accorded to by the Code of Conduct for the Practice of Journalism in Kenya. It also fulfills the Council’s mandate to compile and maintain a register of journalists, media practitioners, media enterprises and such other related registers.

Benefits of Accreditation

1. Helps in professionalization in journalism.
2. It helps journalists to access information by allowing participation in conferences, workshops, trainings and other gatherings.
3. It enhances the protection of the rights and privileges of journalists in the performance of their duties.

The Accreditation Requirements
All local journalists accrediting for the first time with the Media Council of Kenya MUST provide the following requirements for vetting before proceeding with the accreditation process.

• A letter from the employer
• Professional Certificate (ORIGINAL) that is either a Degree of Diploma in Communication from a recognised training institution
• Portfolio of work done either in Print or Broadcast ( Please provide the work not website links)
• A clear passport size digital photograph
• Accreditation Fees: Ksh 2,000

Here is How to be Accredited as a Local National Journalist in Kenya

Apply Online

1. An applicant can apply for accreditation as a local national journalist online by visiting the Media Council of Kenya (MCK’s) Website and make an application through MCK’s online portal through the following link: Online Accreditation Portal
2. Please visit the Media Council of Kenya (MCK’s) Website homepage scroll to the bottom of the page and click on the Accreditation Icon to proceed to the accreditation portal.
3. Upon entering the accreditation portal’s homepage, click on the “Journalist” tab and then choose the “Register (New Journalist Only)” to enter the next page.
4. You will be taken to the next page once you click the “Register (New Journalist Only)” option where you will be asked to provide your personal information, for you to be registered in the portal. This information includes:
   • Email address
   • Full names
   • Gender
   • Date of Birth
   • Phone number
   • Passport photo
   • Password
5. Please provide your valid information and click on the “Submit” button to submit your application. A verification link will be sent to the email address you provided during the registration process.
6. Log in to your email address and click on the verification link. This will lead you to MCS’s Online Accreditation Portal homepage, click on the “Journalist” tab and then choose the “ Login” option so as to begin your accreditation process.
7. Please use your email address and password to log into the portal. Here click on the “Membership Request” tab and select the “New Application” Option to apply for accreditation.
8. Upon Clicking on the “New Application” Option, you will be taken to the next page where you have to choose the category of accreditation you want to apply for: i.e.
   • National Journalists working in media enterprises
9. Fill in the required information and click on the “Submit” button for review.
   • At this point your application status will read as “Pending Approval”.
   • The application approval usually takes a period of two days.
10. Once your application is approved, a confirmation message will be sent to your email address, and your application status will change to “Pending Payment”.
11. Proceed to the make the accreditation payment through Mpesa using the instructions provided in the portal. The Payment instructions will be generated and displayed automatically in the portal.
    • Please do not make any payment before receiving a confirmation massage of approval from MCK asking you to make the payment.
12. Once you have made the payment a pdf copy of your Press Card will be availed in your MCK account , a hard copy of the Press Card can be picked in person from the Council’s Office at Britam Center, Upper-Hill, Nairobi.
    • You will be required to provide proof of identification when collecting the Press Card.

Apply In-Person

1. An applicant can also apply for accreditation as a local national journalist in person by visiting the Media Council of Kenya (MCK) offices .The contact information of the MCK offices can be found in the “Office Location & Contact” Section of this page.
2. Here the applicant will be given an Accreditation Application Form to fill and submit. The application form can also downloaded from the MCK’s official website through the following link .
3. Fill in the application form and attach the required documents. A list of the required documents is mentioned in the “Required Documents” section of this page.
   • Note: make sure you choose the category of accreditation you want to apply for on the application form: i.e.
   • Local Journalist
4. Submit the completed application form and all the required documents to the Media Council Of Kenya (MCK) Offices and proceed to pay the required fees. Details of the required fees for accreditation are provided in the “Fees” Section of this page.
5. Submit the payment receipt to the MCK Offices for processing of your application to begin.
6. Once the accreditation process is completed the Media Council of Kenya (MCK) will contact the applicant to collect the accreditation ID in person.
   • Accreditation is usually completed after a period of seven days.
7. The applicant will be required to produce proof of identity while collecting his accreditation card (Press Card).

MCK Office Locations & Contacts

Media Council of Kenya – Head Office
Address: Ground Floor, Britam Centre,
Mara/Ragati Road Junction,Upper Hill
P.O. Box 43132 00100 Nairobi
Kenya
Tel :+254 727 735252, +254 702 558233, +254 702 558234,+254 702 558453
MCK Website
contact details
Accreditation Portal