Migori: Journalists in Migori County have officially launched the Migori Media Community-Based Organisation (CBO) office, marking a milestone aimed at strengthening community communication, promoting development reporting and enhancing collaboration with both county and national governments.
According to Kenya News Agency, the launch event took place at the Migori Red Cross head office. Migori County Chief Officer for Special Programmes, Starlet Odour, emphasized that the establishment of the office would provide journalists with a central point for professional engagement while improving access for clients, including the county government. The new office is expected to strategically position local media practitioners, making it easier for clients to engage with them. Odour assured that the county government is committed to partnering with the media to enhance the visibility of development projects across Migori.
Migori County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Water and Energy, Sylus Owuor, highlighted the critical role of the media in informing residents about government programmes. Owuor encouraged journalists to continue their efforts in highlighting development initiatives across the county.
Emmanuel Odeny, the Migori County Principal Public Communication Officer, called for reforms in government advertising policies to ensure that county governments allocate advertising opportunities to local media outlets. He urged the Media Council of Kenya (MCK) to review the Government Advertising Agency policy to ensure that county governments are required to place advertisements in registered community media platforms, benefiting them economically.
Kuria Sub-county Information Officer Makokha Khaoya, representing the Migori County Information Office, urged the new CBO to focus on bridging information gaps between mainstream media coverage and grassroots communities. He called on the officials of the CBO to effectively steer the organization in promoting civic participation, amplifying marginalized voices, and improving access to accurate information on socio-economic issues.
Polycap Ochieng, Secretary-General of the Migori Journalists CBO, stated that the newly launched office will serve as the organization’s headquarters, strengthening collaboration among journalists in promoting community development. He emphasized that the office will be a central command for uniting journalists to champion effective communication and support community development in Migori County.
Migori County Election Manager Ben Misati, who also attended the launch, urged the media fraternity to continue highlighting issues affecting society, particularly those that promote civic awareness. He encouraged the media to educate the public on voter registration ahead of the 2027 General Elections, noting that voter registration continues at IEBC main offices and Huduma Centres across the county. Misati appealed to the media to keep informing the public on this important civic duty.
