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This article examines self-regulation as a mechanism of media accountability in Kenya. It is based on a study that explored the role of the Media Council of Kenya in self-regulation and the challenges it faces in performing this role. Data came from indepth interviews, document reviews and direct observation. Through effective institutional mechanisms, self-regulation is the preferred system of promoting ethical standards in the media in Kenya. However, the system is currently beset by a myriad challenges, among them lack of commitment by the media industry and a crisis of confidence in its ability to rein in errant media.

BackgroundLawate M Maghana (2012) argued, cartons are a critical form of communication because they convey a lot of information using simple illustrations coupled with few words. In so doing, cartoons express genuine emotions although harsh and sometimes exaggerated they nevertheless facilitate agenda setting especially to many important issues that generally affect the society. Now, gender depiction in media and more so in cartoons is an important issue that determines the extent the position of men and women is framed before the society. Negative portrayal of either gender in the media through cartoons has a significant contribution towards reinforcing gender stereotypes and discrimination. This ultimately leads to gender gap. Entrenched gender gap affects national cohesion and is an obvious affront to the national values and principles of good governance as spelled out in the constitution of Kenya (2010). Cartoons are serious forms of communication that deserve attention since they are intrinsic section of the editorial voice of every newspaper. Now, the editorial voice of the newspaper is basically the Media House official position or stand on a specific issue of concern affecting the society at a given time. The importance of cartoons in the media industry is perhaps as old as the many sociopolitical issues that have been affecting the world for many years. Although a number of researchers (for example, Hines, 1933; Johnson, 1937; Streicher, 1967; Harrison, 1981) have aimed to provide an account of the beginnings of caricature and cartoon, the most "celebrated essay" (Barm, 1975) on the history of caricature is 'The Principles of Caricature" (1962) by Kris and Gombrich. Although their essay is concerned more with the caricature as an art form, it is important for this

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