The Media Council of Kenya (MCK) has announced plans to launch a  countrywide crackdown on quack journalists, who the council say have infiltered the industry and are a threat to the profession.

According to MCK’s Chief Executive Officer, David Omwoyo, the crackdown will target six counties, which are most affected, saying the quack journalists are  among other things engaging in extortion and asking for handouts from news sources.

The targeted counties are Homa Bay, Nairobi, Kisumu, Mombasa, Turkana and Garissa.

“It is a major challenge. We shall crackdown on the quack journalists because Media Council is the only body mandated to register journalists in the country. It will be decisive and will be less about press freedom but extortion. The quacks who move from one place to the other asking for handouts, taking money by false pretense and misrepresentation of facts,” said Mr Omwoyo.

“The Council’s Mission is to safeguard Media Freedom and enhance Professionalism through setting media standards and ensuring compliance.” He added.

The announcement by the media council comes in the background of recent efforts to curb fake news.