The media in any democratic society is charged with the mandate of creating and shaping of public opinion, strengthening as well as acting as a watchdog of society. It also creates public awareness in a bid to protect public interest and... more
The media in any democratic society is charged with the mandate of creating and shaping of public opinion, strengthening as well as acting as a watchdog of society. It also creates public awareness in a bid to protect public interest and ensure that malpractices in the society are exposed. As the fourth estate, next to the legislature, the executive and the judiciary, it holds the power to transparently and objectively report and cover any events within society. In an election for example, the media participates in the election process by covering and ensuring that free and fair elections are conducted. Reporting any election malpractices becomes a key role of a democratic media during an election. The election process also includes the aftermath of any election and in the case of our study, the petitions that arise during a disputed election. In 2013, the election was disputed and it ended up in a court process that saw the current President, Uhuru Kenyatta declared the winner. The...
