JOURNALISTS have been advised to uphold professionalism when covering elections next year. A journalism lecturer at the United States International University Africa Joe Kadhi said: "If journalists will not uphold professionalism when covering the election, they are likely to fuel violence."

Kadhi said research shows that journalists who covered the 2007/2008 post-election mayhem "made the bad situation horrible" by failing to adhere to professional ethics.

He advised members of the Fourth Estate to instead uphold professional values. "Journalists must uphold professionalism if they want this country to experience peace. Let all journalists adhere to ethical principles and let them know that by covering stories unprofessionally, they are tearing this country apart," he told reporters in Malindi town yesterday during a security, trauma and first aid course.