Media Council of Kenya (MCK) released a daily brief showing how major newspapers heavily prioritised political rivalry while sidelining systemic issues of national importance on Thursday November 27 2025.
The report shows that political supremacy battles dominated the November 27th headlines, and that nearly every major newspaper framed today’s by-elections as a high-stakes rehearsal for the 2027 general election.
The reports also highlights that the focus on political drama overshadowed real socio-economic risks, such as the potential deregistration of 25,000 SACCOs and the threat posed to Ksh 1.2 trillion in member deposits.
MCK notes that newspapers portrayed the by-elections as a political contest between top national figures, creating a narrative where the dominant theme across today’s newspapers is political power.
“The dominant theme across today’s newspapers is political power, and how the outcome of today’s by-elections will affect the 2027 elections,” stated the report.
The brief also warns that while political coverage is important, it should not eclipse urgent public-interest matters that directly affect livelihoods, safety, and financial stability.
The report further reveals that several outlets framed by-elections as a two-horse race, reinforcing political tension while ignoring other candidates and civic issues shaping communities.
One of the clearest findings states that “today’s newspapers focus is on the nationwide by-elections,” with political rivalry treated as the country’s main story even when other crises demanded equal attention.
The report stresses that for ordinary Kenyans, this imbalance means crucial information about financial safety, governance, and social welfare risks being drowned out by repetitive political storylines.
MCK concludes by urging newsrooms to broaden editorial priorities to reflect the real issues affecting everyday citizens, not just the politicians competing for power.
