This archive report was first published on 16 December 2019.
On December 16, 2019, a task force constituted by ICT CS Joe Mucheru to improve government information and public communications submitted a report with far-reaching recommendations.
The task force, led by veteran journalist David Makali, proposed the reorganization of government public communications architecture and the creation of a national Government Communications and Information Service (GCIS).
One of the key recommendations is the transformation of KBC into a public broadcaster by amending the law to clearly specify its role and obligations. The task force also suggested that MyGov newspaper be rebranded and distributed both as an insert in mainstream papers and in government offices across the country.
The report, titled 'Winning Public Trust,' was the result of a comprehensive study that involved a desk review of relevant policies and laws, benchmarking with public and government communications around the world, and focus group discussions with media practitioners.
The task force identified several challenges in government communications, including declining trust in public communication and institutions, lack of a coherent government communication strategy, and low ratings of state media.
ICT CS Joe Mucheru hailed the team for their diligence and promised to act on the recommendations, saying that the report would be reviewed and released for government consumption.
Government spokesman Cyrus Oguna noted that the report would make government more responsive in communication, saying that it would make his office more efficient and effective in public communication.
