Nairobi: Public relations practitioners across the country have been challenged to take up active leadership in shaping government messaging, safeguard public trust, and serve as the first line of defense against the rising tide of misinformation and fake news.
According to Kenya News Agency, Cabinet Secretary for Public Service, Human Capital Development, and Special Programmes, Geoffrey Kiringa Ruku, stressed that effective public sector communication is integral to successful governance during the 24th Public Relations Society of Kenya (PRSK) Excellence Awards and 55th Anniversary Gala held at the Edge Convention Centre in Nairobi. Addressing hundreds of communication officers, corporate executives, and industry leaders, CS Ruku observed that strategic communication must move away from routine publicity and focus on building institutional credibility and national cohesion.
‘Communication is not a peripheral function of government; it is the core machinery of governance. Every policy we draft, every project we roll out, and every reform we undertake in the public sector means very little if citizens do not understand it, do not trust it, and cannot see themselves in it,’ CS Ruku said.
The Cabinet Secretary highlighted that approximately 80 percent of PRSK’s membership is drawn from the public sector, emphasizing that government communicators hold a duty to keep citizens accurately informed on national development agenda items. He expressed concern over existing communication gaps regarding major state initiatives, urging officers to proactively bridge the divide between government action and public perception.
‘We meet at a defining moment for our nation, a season of reflection where national conversations must rise above the politics of the moment and the noise of an approaching election. Government-trained professionals must verify facts before publishing and correct distorted news articles to prevent driving the country into panic and unnecessary division,’ he added.
During the event, CS Ruku, alongside PRSK President, Arik Karani, officially declared open the Call for Entries for the 2026 PRSK Excellence Awards, announcing a submission deadline of 31st January 2027. In addition, CS Ruku pledged government support toward the enactment of the Public Relations and Communication Management Bill, which seeks to establish a statutory framework, legal licensing, and ethical standards for practitioners to professionalize the sector.
PRSK President Arik Karani reflected on the society’s growth since its inception 55 years ago, noting that the profession must continuously raise its standards to match changing global realities. ‘Fifty-five years ago, PRSK started with just four members. Today, we have a vibrant institution shaping how the nation communicates. As we step into the future, it is our collective responsibility to push the bar higher and ensure Kenya leads the continent in communication excellence,’ Karani stated.
PRSK Secretary General, Noella Mutanda, welcomed delegates to the gala evening, encouraging members to celebrate the milestone and setting a lively tone for the night’s proceedings before ushering in the awards segment. The event was also attended by international guests, including the President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Dr. Ike Neliaku, who commended Kenya’s institutionalisation of professional awards as a model for African public relations bodies.
Detailing the rigorous evaluation process for this year’s awards, Chair of the PRSK Awards Panel, Wausi Walya, explained that entries were judged strictly on evidence-based results, ethical strategy, and measurable impact rather than organizational size or brand reputation. ‘Our responsibility as judges is to protect the integrity of the process by recognising work that meets the highest professional standards. Good communication today is no longer about visibility for visibility’s sake-it is about trust, context, and tangible outcome,’ Walya noted, adding that awards were deliberately withheld in categories where submissions fell short of the threshold.
Echoing similar sentiments, Chief Judge for the Moran Awards panel, Dr. Fatuma Hirsi, urged communicators to adopt rigorous documentation practices in their day-to-day assignments. ‘Good work must be denominated, evidenced, and presented with the same care with which it is executed. A strong submission tells the story of the initiative, demonstrates real-world impact, and leaves a legacy for the next generation of communicators,’ Dr. Hirsi said.
The gala celebrated standout campaigns and individual achievements across both the public and private sectors. The night’s ultimate recognition, the Overall PR Campaign of the Year 2025, was awarded to Inter Management Group (IMG) Kenya for their Consumer PR Campaign of the Year executed on behalf of the Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) for the WRC KTB campaign.
Public sector campaigns also received top honors, with the Nyandarua County Government winning the Public Affairs Campaign of the Year 2025 for its ‘Lake Ol’Bollosat Half-Marathon Publicity Campaign 2025 – Running for Conservation, Destination Visibility and Public Pride.’
In special recognition categories, Eva Muraya received the prestigious Golden Honours Award for her exceptional contribution to the public relations sector. Media Council of Kenya (MCK) CEO David Omwoyo was also honored with the PRSK Shepherd’s Award for his leadership in supporting the growth of the communication and media ecosystem in Kenya.
Leading practitioners recognised for individual excellence included James S. M. Karanja, Head of Corporate Affairs and Liaison at Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company Ltd; Calvin S. Nyagudi, Corporate Communications Officer at KETRACO; Charles Wachira Wokabi, Vice President and Head of Sustainability, Corporate Affairs, and Foundation at Absa Bank Kenya PLC; and Beverlyn Naliaka, General Manager at Tim-Sky Media Services.
Additionally, Titus Kimeu Kisangau, Lead Communications for the Joint Learning Network for Universal Health Coverage (JLN) at Amref Health Africa, clinched individual honors. Corporate recognitions saw Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) feature prominently across categories, securing 1st Runner Up for ESG Communication Campaign of the Year for its Sustainability Report and 2nd Runner Up for Internal Communication Campaign of the Year. Institutions including Ketongo and KenGen were also commended for institutional communications excellence.
