Be fair in your reporting, leaders tell media

"I call upon newspapers, radio and television, as well as internet news sites and bloggers to exercise their freedom of the media responsibly.

"The content of our media should be limited to what unifies, promotes national integration and gives hope to Kenyans," said Kibaki.

Kibaki spoke in South Coast where he officially opened a two-day joint Parliament-Kenya Private Sector Alliance conference on elections preparedness.

Raila on said Kenya's media should be professional adding that some media houses are not professional. "No one should interfere with the duty of journalists to comment fairly on issues of national importance. On the other hand, our media should not make their business to spread vitriol, character assassination, unsubstantiated allegations and factual misrepresentation," said Raila.

The PM gave an example of a report that appeared recently in section of the media where it was reported that he had been admitted to a hospital in Nairobi yet he was fit.

Police Commissioner Mathew Iteere also joined the two principals in calling for responsible and professional reporting. "If you ask the media personality about these biased and irresponsible reporting, they say you are trying to gag them but I want them to think about the effect of literature they write," said Iteere.

Source: allAfrica