This article examines the role of the media Kenya’s 2013 elections. While the media plays a critical role democratic processes and many celebrate its role in the provision of information and platform for the engagement with issues and various actors, Kenya’s media has sometimes failed to offer meaningful coverage, analysis and interrogation of various political actors, activities and documents, including politicians, political parties and their manifestoes and promises. Using the 2013 general election, this article argues that the failure of the media is a consequence of numerous factors including ownership, control and manipulation, the incapacity of journalists to critically interrogate issues, political actors, actions and documents as well as self-censorship.
