Faith in Focus: SAKI Partners with Media Council of Kenya to Counter Religious Extremism

The Save a Kenyan Initiative (SAKI) is stepping up its efforts to address the threat of religious extremism by forging a new partnership with the Media Council of Kenya (MCK). The collaboration seeks to promote responsible reporting and counter harmful extremist narratives across the country.

For SAKI, the fight against religious extremism goes beyond monitoring sects and cults. It is about protecting communities from dangerous doctrines that undermine public health, education, security, and the Constitution. As SAKI Executive Director Eric Githaiga explained:

“The doctrines of some sects, which prohibit vaccination and formal education, have led to preventable deaths and violations of the law. These practices are unconstitutional and pose serious public health and security risks.”

He emphasised the urgent need to sensitise journalists particularly at the grassroots level on how extremist groups operate and the dangers they present to society.

The urgency of this partnership has been sharpened by the Shakahola tragedy, where the misuse of faith by a cult leader led to the deaths of hundreds of Kenyans. The incident revealed how quickly extremist ideologies can take root and how critical the role of the media is in shaping understanding, preventing panic, and avoiding sensationalism that could inflame tensions.

MCK Chief Executive Officer David Omwoyo welcomed the collaboration, noting the crucial role of the media in shaping public understanding. “There is a need for sensitisation in the media sector. Challenges in coverage have been evident, particularly during the Shakahola tragedy. We must focus on factual reporting without sensationalism, supported by continuous training and sensitisation,” he said. He further highlighted that responsible storytelling and digital literacy forums can foster awareness and prevent the misuse of press freedom.

The partnership will prioritise the creation of practical tools and platforms to support journalists and community media. This includes developing a reporting handbook with clear protocols for covering religious extremism, rolling out continuous training programmes, and convening a national media roundtable to encourage dialogue on responsible coverage of cults and sects.

Through this initiative, SAKI aims to establish a collaborative monitoring mechanism to curb the misuse of media freedoms by extremist preachers. Journalists will be empowered to tell stories that are factual, sensitive, and constructive, with a strong focus on behaviour change communication that listens to and engages target audiences.

While MCK brings regulatory oversight and professional standards to the initiative, including the new Code of Conduct for Media Practice 2025, SAKI anchors the collaboration in community resilience, strategic communication, and counter-extremism expertise. Together, the two organisations are working to ensure that the media becomes a partner in safeguarding Kenya’s future, amplifying positive narratives, and strengthening national cohesion.

At its core, this partnership reflects SAKI’s broader mission: to stand at the frontline of protecting Kenyans from harmful ideologies, restoring dignity to communities, and ensuring that faith is used as a force for peace and hope—not manipulation or harm.