State Department of Telecommunications and Broadcasting Principal Secretary Edward Kisiangani has called on journalists to be responsible with their press freedoms.
Kisiangani said freedom goes hand in hand with responsibility.
"While World Press Freedom Day reminds us of media freedom as the epitome of universal liberty, it also reminds us of the burden of responsibility that goes with that liberty," The PS said.
He said the media should not use their liberty to trample on other people's rights and liberty is not freedom from accountability.
The PS said media is a very powerful tool and should be meticulous not to report any falsehoods.
He spoke on Wednesday during the annual World Press Freedom Day summit in Nairobi.
"You can cause war by doing that. You have to be very careful in this post-truth age where falsehoods can be refurbished to seem truthful," Kisiangani said.
He urged the media to take in criticism positively, especially when there is a deviation from ethical reporting.
The PS said freedom of expression should not propagate hate speech or any other wrong agenda.
"We should not, in the name of freedom, drive an agenda that divides people or leads them to war," the PS said.
He said at times mainstream media pick up cues which might be false from social media and amplify them
Kisiangani said mainstream media must also deal with the challenge of fake news.
