The Media Council of Kenya (MCK) has issued a formal media advisory directing all media enterprises to immediately verify the credentials of nutrition and dietetics experts before engaging them for public commentary.
In a statement released on Friday, February 6, 2026, the Council disclosed that it had received an official advisory from the Kenya Nutritionists and Dieticians Institute (KNDI) raising alarm over the growing practice of media platforms engaging unregistered individuals who present themselves as nutrition experts.
Spice FM Segment Sparks Regulatory Concern
At the center of the advisory is a controversial segment aired on Spice FM, a station under the Standard Group, titled “Ugali is the most useless food that is out there.”
The content was attributed to an individual identified as Issa Habib, who was presented as a “Nutrition Expert.”
KNDI has since formally condemned and disowned the remarks, stating that the individual is not registered with the Institute.
Mandatory Compliance with the Law
KNDI, which is mandated by Parliament to regulate standards and ensure quality in nutrition and dietetics practice, noted that several media houses have failed to consult the Institute when selecting experts for health-related discussions.
The Media Council emphasized that, effective immediately, media enterprises must only engage nutrition and dietetics professionals who are duly registered by KNDI. Failure to do so, the advisory warns, violates Sections 33 and 36(b) of the Nutritionists and Dieticians Act.
Such violations may expose both the unregistered individual and the hosting media organization to legal action and unnecessary litigation.
Call for Due Diligence and Responsible Journalism
MCK urged media houses to exercise due diligence and use official verification channels provided by KNDI to confirm the professional status of potential guests. The Council stressed that accurate and professional health information is critical to safeguarding public welfare.
“The public relies on the media for credible health information, and it is the responsibility of media enterprises to ensure that such information is delivered by qualified professionals,” the advisory noted.
Media houses seeking clarification or verification are encouraged to contact the Media Council of Kenya through its official channels as part of its broader mandate of promoting press freedom alongside responsible journalism.
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