SECTOR 4 The media practice high levels of professional standards. 4.1 The media follow voluntary codes of professional standards, which are enforced by self-regulatory bodies that deal with complaints from the public. Analysis The Media Council of Kenya (MCK) is in place as a statutory body (The Media Act, 2007). It was founded by the media industry after wide consultations on selfregulation, but entrenched by law for enforcement of its mandate. It deals with complaints received from the aggrieved parties. Currently, it has 40 cases before the Ethics Commission. In place is also the MCK Code of conduct and practice of Journalism in Kenya (2nd ed.repr.2007). The first edition of the Code of Conduct was published by MCK in conjunction with the Media Industry Committee in 2001. The major goal was to ensure that the country’s media is free from government interference. A self regulatory mechanism guided by the code and enforced by a non statutory media council were key to this endeavour. The code of conduct was to serve as a foundation for the practice of ethical journalism in the country. Different media houses also have internal guidelines which are reviewed from time to time. Enforcement of such guidelines often depends on the leadership of the media house. As far as professional standards are concerned, the MCK made this tentative step of developing the code of ethics, and it has been vocal in promoting ethics. So far, over 4000 copies have been distributed. MCK has mounted trainings on this code for it to be used as a basis for ethics and professionalism. MCK also brought stakeholders together and highlighted the code as a basis for questioning the media and lodging complaints. Arbitration is mainly reconciliatory with little monetary awards. Complaints of technical nature e.g. equipment and airwaves go to the Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK) while those of content go to MCK. The MCK has to evolve a balance as a strong media self-regulating body. It has the challenge to be proactive and initiate cases in public interest. 52 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER KENYA 2009